The custom of crossing the line was immediately adopted following the formation of the Royal Australian Navy, as seen here onboard HMAS Australia (I) in 1913. SUNY Maritime occasionally holds a Blue Nose ceremony for its cadets after crossing the Arctic Circle. The first "griffin" was Charles Darwin, who noted in his diary how he "was then placed on a plank, which could be easily tilted up into a large bath of water. I was initiated as a Blue Nose, boasted one person who crossed the Arctic Circle, but when I pressed, he wouldnt mention much else. This said, the party doesnt end here! Read Queens version, Not So Easy love Story of A Sailors Queen, 5 Reasons Why People not Joining Merchant Navy. This is a usually light-hearted event that allows the ships crew to take some time out from their hectic schedules and have fun with the rest of the crewmates. Their most recent ceremony was during the summer of 2019, on the TSES VI, held shortly after departing Reykjavik. 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. For instance, blackface was a common element of it before World War II, but once integration hit the military that part stopped. Many seafarers who happen to cross the Equator on their first voyage are sometimes put to a different test and asked to confirm the red/yellow colour of the Equator. Columbia, Line-crossing Ceremony: Homophobic or Homoerotic? And yes, mostly I am welcomed on board. Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. Customers with questions regarding our loan officers and their licensing may visit the [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. Other milestones such as crossing the Antarctic Circle and deep sea diving have also been adopted in this tradition. An illustration of an 1816 line-crossing ceremony aboard the frigate Mduse. Normally theres some separation between these groups, but during the line-crossing ceremony everyone is involved, be they scientist or crew. 65203, VA Loans and Credit Score Minimums: Requirements Buyers Need to Know. My wife did hers on SS Acavus in 1980 when she sailed with me. They never turned into a nightmare for the new comers and they were accompanied only by laughter and happy faces. It is not at all easy to hold the position of a Queen in [], Sir..i am join merchant navy+917508280187 my whatsapp number pls call me, Your email address will not be published. On Navy cruises everyone is considered a crew member, maintaining the ship in all ways needed. In 1995, a notorious line-crossing ceremony took place on the Royal Australian Navy submarine HMASOnslow. All rights reserved. In the 18th century and earlier, the line-crossing ceremony was quite a brutal event,[8] often involving beating pollywogs with boards and wet ropes and sometimes throwing the victims over the side of the ship, dragging the pollywog through the surf from the stern. The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard have well-established line-crossing rituals. When a ship must cross the Equator reasonably close to one of these meridians, the ship's captain might plot a course across the Golden X so that the ship's crew can be initiated as Golden or Emerald/Royal Diamond Shellbacks. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. [13] Depending on the Ocean or Fleet AOR, there can be variations in the rite. After the ceremony, the Sailors were inducted into the "Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep" meaning that King Neptune had accepted them as one of his trusty shellbacks. The Line Crossing Ceremony might just be the most interesting of today's naval traditions. Copyright 2023 Mortgage Research Center, LLC. Its even begun being offered as a participatory attraction on commercial cruise lines. <> USMC Golden shellback here, aboard the USS Denver, 1981 much more fun pitching than catching on Wog Day!!! Webthe equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history. May you always sail in safe seas and always find your way back home! Perhaps Neptunes approval doesnt depend on harassment. Anything else the Shellbacks could think of. However, most lenders have similar criteria. The Iron Shellback are those on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the USS San Jacinto who crossed the equator after a 200+ day voyage during the 2020 pandemic. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. (Photo: A Neptune party to celebrate crossing the equator, 1923. Sailors who have already crossed the Equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune. Next, the Pollywogs kneel before the King and kiss the royal baby's belly, which according to some accounts is covered in grease. Anyhow, as people on board grow more and more connected with each other by sharing the same interests, leisure activities and hard work this kind of ceremony becomes less and less popular. endobj The chant goes up: "KISS THE FISH! It was my second voyage at sea and I was still a little uncomfortable on board, still a little shy in the middle of a 23-member crew (totally male). There are still cases in which seafarers are put to difficult and embarrassing tests sometimes humiliating and even painful experiences in order to receive the blessing of a very unkind and unfair God.The ones who received the same harsh treatment years before are more likely to perform the same unkind ceremony on the new comers and the more humiliating the situation is the happier they are. Church, Andrew. One sailor was then sexually assaulted with a long stick before all sailors undergoing the ceremony were forced to jump overboard and tread water until permitted to climb back aboard the submarine. It was also an initiation rite commemoratedthe first time a sailor crossed over. [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. <> In more than one instance, sailors were reported to have been killed while participating in a line-crossing ceremony. Much like a wedding, one experiences the joy of it just once, thus becoming a spectator for the all the others to come! The eve of the equatorial crossing is called Wog Day and, as with many other night-before rituals, is a mild type of reversal of the day to come. Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. Back in the days of wooden ships, Crossing the Line ceremonies were designed to test young Sailors on their first cruise out in the open sea. 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. 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. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. WebCrossing The Equator (The Script of the Ceremony in HMCS Stettler 1957 February 26, 1957 at 106 East Longitude) (Name of original author not recorded 1957) Note to Reader: This is a typical script for a Crossing the Line ceremony. WebCrossing The Equator (The Script of the Ceremony in HMCS Stettler 1957 February 26, 1957 at 106 East Longitude) (Name of original author not recorded 1957) Note to Reader: This is a typical script for a Crossing the Line ceremony. terms and conditions 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? The crew finally converted the Wogs after the endurance tests were accomplished, ending the ceremonywith an affirmation of the new Shellbacks by way of a certificate declaring their new status. (Photo:Lou Sander/WikiCommons CC BY-SA 4.0). The ritual is the subject of a painting by Matthew Benedict named The Mariner's Baptism and of a 1961 book by Henning Henningsen named Crossing the Equator: Sailor's Baptism and Other Initiation Rites. Cracking it open at once pertains to long luck and safe seas. Cast of characters during a Crossing the Line ceremony, DANFS - Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Permitting Policy and Resource Management, The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks: 20 Years Later, "Ex Scientia Tridens": The U.S. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. They also were made to sufferembarrassing ordeals including: Being swatted with a fire hose while on their hands and knees, Locked in stocks and pelted with mushy fruit, Locked in a salt-water coffin with a bright green die made of a fluorescent sodium salt. Once the ceremony is complete, a Pollywog receives a certificate[15] declaring his new status. NH 106226. The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. SMH! Over the history of researchers hitting the high seas to acquire water samples and observe marine life, there are multiple accounts of ceremonies performed when the ships hit the Equator. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. The Schooner Bar pianist and crooner comes in for some particularly harsh treatment, possibly for playing Living Next Door to Alice too often. 2022 by Kin & Kingdoms Books. And there are no two thoughts on that. 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. Crossing the Line is nearly as old as seafaring itself; even in antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels. NH 106226. This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. (Photo: The Rise and Fall of Cruisingforsex.com, a Digital Atlas of Casual Encounters, AO Video Investigation: Movie Worms Ranked By Size, Morlocks, CHUDS and Graboids: A Bestiary of Fictional Subterranea. 6 0 obj As with most healthy traditions, the small indignities are a symbolism for inclusion and frolic. This is how #EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard. She is the one to whom all other woman look up to. For many in the research community, however, the ceremonies dont represent the power struggle and hostility some in the Navy have come to know. What you should not forget. and High ranking members of the crew and those who have been Shellbacks the longest dress up in elaborate costume and each play the part of King Neptune's court. The controlled order often turned to chaos if a Pollywog revolt began. (Photo: An illustration of an 1816 line-crossing ceremony aboard the frigate Mduse. USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) UPDATE of 1973 CTL. I was woken up by an AB within 30 minutes of sleeping off along with a barrage of other men who were grinning away to glory and the reason became apparent to me; I was going to have to go through the equator crossing ceremony (line-crossing ceremony)! Shellback certificate awarded to Charles Cameron, aboard USS Utah (BB-31), commemorating his first crossing of the equator, December 1, 1928. One of the men onboard are made to dress up as King Neptune, with the Trident scepter in hand and a crown for the glorious head! I am one of the disappointed. Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox. Nowadays, the most common ceremonies always include at least two members of the crew willing to conduct the show, the fire hoses ready to splash, glasses of miraculous drinks, baptism certificates, a noisy and supportive crowd and a well deserved party afterwards. 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. VA disability pay for 2023 increased by 8.7%. 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. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. Most modern navies have instituted regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony. Reflecting the popularity of tattoos among sailors, some people choose to get tattoos to mark that they have participated in a ceremony, such as an image of a shellback turtle or King Neptune. This is likely because of the bad rap the ceremony has accrued over the years. The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. What is Maritime English and Why It Is Important? Interrogations were held by King Neptune and his entourage who used truth serum (aftershave and hot sauce), or whole uncooked eggs in the Pollywoggers mouth. Other people often show up, including a surgeon, a barber, people dressed as bears, and a judge. WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. Most prominently, ocean scientists are known to perform similar ceremonies. hVYoH+=#E Mclu"m*~Ks4/ mF[S,N8Z tpX#?H8Aao5Fh7FAc1!)o5Sq. What perhaps differentiates the research experience from the Navy one is the chance to bond with more people on the ship. Those who have not crossed are nicknamed Pollywogs, or Slimy Pollywogs, or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs. All the same, its not a secret. 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. While now its as much a spectacle as it is a test, the line-crossing ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality. [citation needed]. 14 0 obj 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 18, Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. The Navy has spent decades trying to rein in on hazing; the line-crossing ceremony represents a great deal of this. A VA approved lender; Not endorsed or sponsored by the Dept. When the ceremonies were first conducted, they were physically challenging and could even be painful or embarrassing to the Sailors. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. We newly elevated Shellbacks get a certificate to mark the occasion, just in case we ever have to prove we are trusty and honourable, rather than lowly, slimy and scum-sucking. Nevertheless, the ceremony is a hoot, despite the dodgy production values and a few hilarious script issues. <> Fortunately no head shaving but the foul mixture was foul in the extreme. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition It looks like a trout, but the bloke who goes in for the full tongue action is definitely a groper. 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. WebEquator crossing certificate. Myriad approaches to conducting the ceremony will yield myriad accounts. But there are also times when myseafarers are busy, with bunkering, or they are doing other work. As they approached the equator on the evening of 16 February 1832, a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship. It was also called crossing the line. 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. The article or images cannot be reproduced, copied, shared or used in any form without the permission of the author and Marine Insight. Let's look at the minimum credit score for a VA loan and what lenders typically expect. She recalled the innovative costumes and how almost everyone on the ship was involved. WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. 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. Your email address will not be published. King, Ernest J., USN. At the end of it, the Captain, Chief Engineer and the rest, as a mark of welcoming and respect, congratulate the initiates. This amounted to over 70% of the world's total number of military ships measuring 1,000 tons or greater. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. But their businessis for me no problem. Little did I know what was to happen! It was also called crossing the line. Not affiliated with any government agency. Required fields are marked *. However, the essence of it will remain the same. %PDF-1.3 It is steamy hot, of course, and drinks are slipping down like kids on a waterslide. 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. Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and This is how I mostly startmy ship visit. WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. 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As it is a test, the line-crossing ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality when crossing certain.... Of 16 February 1832, a barber, people dressed as bears, and a few hilarious script.. Crossing the equator for the first time accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same Sander/WikiCommons BY-SA! As crossing the Line is nearly as old as seafaring itself ; even in antiquity sailors engaged in when...