All the same, its not a secret. The 1989 crossing was fairly typical, as it was not realized to be the last one. My wife did hers on SS Acavus in 1980 when she sailed with me. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. Veterans United Home Loans provided more VA Home Loans by volume than any other lender as of Oct. 2022. 211 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<9CAE41BC77A23D4684E864BC01895996>]/Index[187 41]/Info 186 0 R/Length 110/Prev 455655/Root 188 0 R/Size 228/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream The rich tradition of the Crossing the Line ceremonies often involved varied events throughout which pollywogs, the term given to those who have not crossed the equator before, were put through a series of initiation rites involving harrowing and often embarrassing tasks, gags, obstacles, physical hardships, and generally good-humored mischief. The crew was in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. WebAlthough crossing the equator may seem like a routine event for any modern-day naval vessel, navies have celebrated the time-honored tradition for centuries. The rarest Shellback status is that of the Emerald Shellback (US), or Royal Diamond Shellback (Commonwealth), which is received after crossing the Equator at the prime meridian,[16] near the Null Island weather buoy. No one is really sure when or how the Line Crossing Ceremony, "Order of Neptune", came about. As you can see in the photo below, when the MV Odyssey crosses the equator twice a year, it holds the King Neptune ceremony for its students of the Semester at Sea program. In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, too, received a summons to appear before the sea god and pay his respects. Anyone inducted is quick to say they are part of this Order, but resistant to go into more detail. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. By submitting your email you are agreeing to Nine Publishing's Columbia, document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This is likely because of the bad rap the ceremony has accrued over the years. The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. Why? This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. VA disability pay for 2023 increased by 8.7%. The ceremony observes a mariner's transformation from slimy Pollywog, a seaman who hasn't crossed the equator, to trusty Shellback, also called a Son or Daughter of Neptune. He writes personal stories of our nation's veterans and active military members. The Pollywogs (also referred to as landlubbers) must be dipped in water for the initiation and passing into the realm of the seas. 227 0 obj <>stream A Queen represents confidence and unconditional dedication towards her task. Colorado State University's Semester at Sea Program holds a line-crossing ceremony twice a year for its students when their vessel, MVWorld Odyssey, crosses the equator. Afterwards, some may be "interrogated" by King Neptune and his entourage, and the use of "truth serum" (hot sauce + after shave) and whole uncooked eggs put in the mouth. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. The views constitute only the opinions and do not constitute any guidelines or recommendation on any course of action to be followed by the reader. at last, glad enough, I escaped. Baptism on the line, also called equatorial baptism, is an alternative initiation ritual sometimes performed as a ship crosses the Equator, involving water baptism of passengers or crew who have never crossed the Equator before. Pollywogs participated voluntarily, though female midshipmen observed that they were under social pressure to do the ceremony but were targets of harder abuse. I was very lucky to be a part of that beautiful ceremony and thanks to that captain I didnt have to witness any humiliating test. It is steamy hot, of course, and drinks are slipping down like kids on a waterslide. The Navy is chock full of myth and tradition, and what happens at sea even affects our language. Much like a wedding, one experiences the joy of it just once, thus becoming a spectator for the all the others to come! FitzRoy quoted Otto von Kotzebue's 1830 description in his 1839 Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle between the Years 1826 and 1836. He concluded, As far as I know they are still being performed but they are not as fun as they used to be since all the politically correct people have ruined it.. After we drank our glasses with that awful tasting liquid, we received our certificates together with everybodys congratulations and enjoyed a wonderful party thrown in our honor. See. hb```>VB eaX;f8L/```b^22jtsVP 6z k$}`+9Vxyo Nk1TO4# }/$ Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. The Pollywogs are accused of various atrocities and crimes against humanity, including pushing in at the buffet, singing karaoke out of tune and dancing without rhythm. I contacted a few other scientistsone supposedly went on a trip where the wogs were forced to crawl through trashand few felt comfortable talking about the experience. (Photo: Neptune and his entourage during a Polish line-crossing ceremony. We still laugh about it to this day. NH 106226. The ceremony is carefully orchestrated by the ship's officers, with some sailors reporting the events to be lackluster due to the removal of the rites of initiation. <> Pollywogs are then doused with water to symbolise a baptism and are duly admitted to the District of Equatorius as Trusty and Honourable Shellbacks and Sons of Neptune. For instance, as Naval backlash increased due to allegations of oppressive line-crossing practices, many officers dug in their heels and vehemently defended the ceremony, despite consequences to their own careers. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. 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[3][4], In the Royal Canadian Navy, those who have not yet crossed the equator are nicknamed Tadpoles, or Dirty Tadpoles; an earlier nickname was griffins. May you always sail in safe seas and always find your way back home! t a terrible thing it would be if a Navy man became gay. <> The US Navy holds a massive, two-day line crossing ceremony wherein experienced sailors (those who have been across the equator) are called Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks and Honorable Shellbacks, the Sons of Neptune. Because I know with a smile and a handshake [], A Queen is no ordinary woman. Their most recent ceremony was during the summer of 2019, on the TSES VI, held shortly after departing Reykjavik. Hersh mentioned how the ceremony morphed as more people entered the Navy. In the last decades of the 20th century, the Crossing of the Equator or Equator Crossing Ceremony took the form of a joyous celebration meant to entertain the whole crew, by offering everybody on board a few hours of fun and relaxation. The article or images cannot be reproduced, copied, shared or used in any form without the permission of the author and Marine Insight. [citation needed]. Many cases of unbelievable cruelty were reported especially in the years after the II World War and some maritime companies even banned these ceremonies on board their vessels. Shilavadra Bhattacharjee is a shipbroker with a background in commercial operations after having sailed onboard as a Third Officer. Wogs (all of the uninitiated) are allowed to capture and interrogate any Shellbacks they can find (e.g., tying them up, cracking eggs or pouring aftershave lotion on their heads). Naval History and Heritage Command. The scientist I spoke to was also proud of her line-crossing, describing it as really positive. But from her account, the experience seems to have been an inclusive, constructive one, fully compatible with what the Navy member called political correctness. The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. x]KsSjF r.Kq9r_t)RMH[f~F`j4z0R.wo,y?_6 zXw{^7'/Vu:l~|cW;F:yVR0cSEQl:6hQOZr:iusl B9Pn~-~u6= f{w}XYaKn)VSwA#/Ye6=~ui)f{jL??GOn2{ >y 7KOs!Oy4+,Cc[`_rXVe(soAyG:x[HT1J-aFn-gfEXU0)EJhSsfD~5c6 ^Ub2?\%"0s5nFM 6VNG1ymVMgi;THbV:XB"`/8v6h?4`"n@? Behind the Strange and Controversial Ritual When You Cross the Equator At Sea. With the pollywog to shellback transition complete, a certificate was often awarded to the new shellback as a rite of passage. The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. The transition flows from established order to the "controlled chaos" of the Pollywog Revolt, the beginnings of re-order in the initiation rite as the fewer but experienced enlisted crew converts the Wogs through physical tests, then back to, and thereby affirming, the pre-established order of officers and enlisted. Many naval traditions, from the Sirens and Sea Monsters of the Odyssey to the boatswain's call, date back hundreds and even thousands of years. Today, the event is voluntary and is conducted more for entertainment purposes and morale boosting than anything else. As the cruise ship Voyager of the Seas nears the equator, excitement mounts and all Pollywogs those who have never crossed the line are encouraged to register for the crossing the equator ceremony. [9] The ceremony is sometimes explained as being an initiation into the court of King Neptune. The US Navy holds a massive, two-day line crossing ceremony wherein experienced sailors (those who have been across the equator) are called Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks and Honorable Shellbacks, the Sons of Neptune. I love the sea and all the beauties it brings along, I love travelling, nature and taking photos.As writing is one of my favourite activities as well, I am happy to share some of my experiences at sea together with lots of photos and movies on my personal blog www.travellingoncontainervessels.com. What perhaps differentiates the research experience from the Navy one is the chance to bond with more people on the ship. [citation needed], Efforts to curtail the line-crossing ceremony did not begin until the 1980s, when several reports of blatant hazing began to circulate regarding the line-crossing ceremony, and at least one death was attributed to abuse while crossing the line. This part is the beginning of the ritual wherein they are stripped down to their underwear (or nothing!) One by one, all the older and more experienced seafarers take their turn in congratulating the newly anointed sailors, glasses are raised in their honor and even a party can be thrown to emphasize the event. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. And yes, mostly I am welcomed on board. The memory of the event sticks with people. Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. Juan Pablo Rosato of the Argentine navy. WebEquator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are common in the Navy and are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and cruise ships. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. King Neptune decrees the "lowly, scum-sucking Pollywogs must kiss the royal fish!". Webthe equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history. The crew was in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. Learn how your comment data is processed. Pollywogs or Slimy Pollywogs were those who have not yet crossed the line. As appalling as it may seem to shore folk, it is a tradition that makes a man out a fresh cadet or trainee seaman. Dancing, song, skits or poetry count among the merriment. The luxury cruise ship that doubles as a science vessel, instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser, Hotel brand's first Australian property restores historic Sydney building, Like hotel rooms in the sky: Qantas unveils new first-class cabins, Bangkok hotel chain's stunning French Riviera debut, I wasn't meeting any new people in Bali. [1] The tradition may have originated with ceremonies when passing headlands, and become a "folly" sanctioned as a boost to morale,[2] or have been created as a test for seasoned sailors to ensure their new shipmates were capable of handling long, rough voyages. While now its as much a spectacle as it is a test, the line-crossing ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality. Taken by surprise and slightly intimidated by higher ranked officers, the new cadets or ordinary seamen are usually trapped into admitting one color or another after they visually checked the water. They are being summoned into Neptunes Court for crimes theyve committed against the god. Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. The ceremony could include funny and nave games like moving on hands and knees on slippery decks but more humiliating, difficult and dangerous tasks as well like crawling through barrels of garbage or oil, jumping overboard from high decks or climbing on top of the mast and being forced to spend hours in the same position. Equator Crossing or Baptism Ceremony-All About it. MO 2013. (Photo:Lou Sander/WikiCommons CC BY-SA 4.0). Video of 1957 Coast Guard crossing ritual. The Golden Shellback was awarded to those who also crossed the equator and the International Date Line or 180th meridian, (where the world is divided between Eastern and Western Hemispheres) at the same time. (July 14): NNS130704-01. %PDF-1.3 Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and Download image. Its even begun being offered as a participatory attraction on commercial cruise lines. The Wogs then ascended a ladder to the boat deck to slide down a makeshift chute into the baptism of messdeck leavings in sea water in an inflated liferaft back on the superstructure deck. Anything else the Shellbacks could think of. The chant goes up: "KISS THE FISH! It was also called crossing the line. [citation needed]. The Navy has many histories of line-crossing, and a Google search turns up numerous pictures of sailors being initiated. Equator Crossing or Baptism Ceremony Showing gratitude towards the sea and its masters may come in the form of a whispering pray behind the four walls of your cabin, but it sometimes requires a loud shout and a real ceremony which must be attended by everybody else on board. Crossing The Equator - King Neptune Ceremony, This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. Each ship might have their own traditions and nuances, but the fundamental structure goes something like this: Many accounts dwell only on the final, elaborate ceremony that takes place on the day a ship traverses the equator, but the month leading up to King Neptune's arrival, when the Pollywogs are separated off from the Shellbacks, is also significant. For the coming days, it is very easy to spot the sailors that have recently been through the ordeal, for their hair is either absolutely absent or styled as if rats had a feeding frenzy on them! The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Ceremonial Certificates - Neptune Subpoena", "Ceremonial Certificates - Golden Shellback Certificate - Personalized", "Every tattoo makes a statement but what do they mean? I remember the serious yet joyous voice of the captain when he used the public announcer to assemble us all on the starboard side wing. crossing the equator, Commanding Officer Captain J. Scott Jones, for instance, publicly announced that the USS Bonhomme Richard had a great celebration of this important passage. A beauty contest was held with one man from each department dressed up in womens swimsuit drag. After crossing the line, Pollywogs receive subpoenas[14] to appear before King Neptune and his court (usually including his first assistant Davy Jones and her Highness Amphitrite and often various dignitaries, who are all represented by the highest-ranking sailors who are Shellbacks), who officiate at the ceremony, which is often preceded by a beauty contest of men dressing up as women, each department of the ship being required to introduce one contestant in swimsuit drag. What you should not forget. Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. After breakfast, which is made too spicy for the Pollywogs to eat, the accused appear before King Neptune, who sits in judgment. Other milestones such as crossing the Antarctic Circle and deep sea diving have also been adopted in this tradition. The seamen who have already crossed the equator are referred to as Shellbacks (or, Sons Of Neptune) and those who havent are called Pollywogs. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. It is very seldom to find an age-old tradition that is carried out with such gusto at shore. It is a memory that is etched into each and every seafarer, for it is an event that ushers in a sense of belonging to ones profession. The passengers get off relatively lightly, perhaps because of litigation-wary Neptunian lawyers, but the ship's Pollywog officers and entertainers are not so lucky. It is a memory that is etched into each and every seafarer, for it is an event that ushers in a sense of belonging to ones profession. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line an old seafaring tradition. He actually told me that he had never agreed to humiliating or painful trials for the new comers because the strength of a real seafarer stays in his heart, his wisdom and his kindness and these qualities can not be tested through silly, humiliating or painful ordeals. VA-approved lender. Normally theres some separation between these groups, but during the line-crossing ceremony everyone is involved, be they scientist or crew. Crossing the Line is nearly as old as seafaring itself; even in antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. The charges brought against him: In 2010, a Line Crossing Ceremony was an international affair. The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. Hersh writes: Pollywogs who are disliked, or who are suspected of being gay, receive especially harsh treatment, while favored wogs or high-ranking wogs are often pulled out of the ritual early, or are permitted to go through it without too much harassment.. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Showing gratitude towards the sea and its masters may come in the form of a whispering pray behind the four walls of your cabin, but it sometimes requires a loud shout and a real ceremony which must be attended by everybody else on board. (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). All rights reserved. WebEquator crossing certificate. There were pageants where wogs were forced to crossdress in front of their superiors, and then spend the rest of their day performing often degrading tasks. 18, The writer was a guest of Royal Caribbean Cruises. What proceeds is a day of festivities, which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew. Why fly home from Bali when you can cruise in style? It was also an initiation rite commemoratedthe first time a sailor crossed over. The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. stream [12] As late as World War II, the line-crossing ceremony was still rather rough and involved activities such as the "Devil's Tongue", which was an electrified piece of metal poked into the sides of those deemed pollywogs. Flour and eggs are added to their humiliation; nor do they escape the fish, which by now seems like a bit of a flirt. If they had not, they must choose to give up their allowance of wine for four days, or undergo a ducking ceremony in which they were ducked three times into the ocean.
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