They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Perhaps Neptunes approval doesnt depend on harassment. WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. They never turned into a nightmare for the new comers and they were accompanied only by laughter and happy faces. 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. 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. So, you are [], Ahoy Ahoy, Port Chaplain coming on board. 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. <> Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. terms and conditions 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. 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. The writer was a guest of Royal Caribbean Cruises. Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. A beauty contest was held with one man from each department dressed up in womens swimsuit drag. 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. [2] The officer on watch reported a boat ahead, and Captain FitzRoy ordered "hands up, shorten sail". As this scientist put it, everyone on the ship was fine with someone not participating; No one egged her in her sleep., Neptune and his entourage during a Polish line-crossing ceremony. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. She is a symbol of strength, love, patience, responsibility, beauty, happiness and honesty. (Photo: An illustration of an 1816 line-crossing ceremony aboard the frigate Mduse. There are other similar ceremonies for different locales including the Arctic and Antarctic Circle, the International Date Line, and others. What proceeds is a day of festivities, which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. Cadets crawled through a tunnel with lo mein, or "Eel Spawn", and then had food put in their hair before crawling through the fantail while being sprayed by fire hoses. DhD!D4n4I8P5>U`_FC.i`p8~xz_ep;MtBgCrf"FB:&t#W>V98}&I75(*^bqYe[A_xJ4k) Bx^c;.vT{c,kv8J>U_ In the PBS documentary Carrier, filmed in 2005 (Episode 7, "Rites of Passage"), a crossing-the-line ceremony on USSNimitz is extensively documented. Disclaimer: The views mentioned above are of the author only. They perform a variety of activities which might involve wearing their clothes inside out or backwards and crawling across the deck through objectionable debris, often the uneatable breakfast that was served to the Pollywogs. most of the others were treated much worse, dirty mixtures being put in their mouths & rubbed on their faces. He writes personal stories of our nation's veterans and active military members. WebEquator crossing certificate. Church, Andrew. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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). The seamen who have already crossed the equator are referred to as Shellbacks (or, Sons Of Neptune) and those who havent are called Pollywogs. (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. The tradition began with the Navy over 400 years ago, says anthropology and sociology professor Carie Little Hersh in her 2002 paper Crossing the Line: Sex, Power, Justice, and the U.S. Navy at the Equator. Given its long history, the ritual has changed over the years, but it remains a well-knownalbeit sometimes controversiallinchpin of Naval culture. Following this aspect of the grand event, the sailors are tied together and marched forward to the anchor with the sound of a drum to coordinate movement. ;x.T`f\%e:pJ+*n h= A Neptune party to celebrate crossing the equator, 1923. The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. Behind the Strange and Controversial Ritual When You Cross the Equator At Sea. Most modern navies have instituted regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony. 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. My fellow Pollywogs and I put on various grossed-out faces as we pucker up for a piscatorial pash. 2023 Atlas Obscura. %PDF-1.5 % Naval Academy, The Sullivan Brothers and the Assignment of Family Members, Historic Former U.S. Navy Bases and Stations, The African American Experience in the U.S. Navy, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. Navy, Contributions of Native Americans to the U.S. Navy, The World Cruise of the Great White Fleet, Navy Underwater Archaeology Return Program, Annual Navy History and Heritage Awards - Main, Research Permits for Sunken & Terrestrial Military Craft, Scanning, Copyright & Citation Information, Obtain Duplications of Records and Photos, Crossing the Line, Plank Owner, and Other Unofficial Certificates Acquired by Naval Personnel, Precedence of the Naval Reserve in Parades, Passing Honors, National Anniversaries, and Solemnities, Rocks and Shoals: Articles for the Government of the U.S. Navy, The Evolution of Ship Naming in the U.S. Navy, http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=75241, Captain Arleigh Burke's Crossing the Line Certificate Aboard USS, Shellback Certificate for Lt. Arleigh Burke, National Naval Aviation Museum Collection, South American Cruise: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Shellback and Other Navy Ceremonial Certificates: A Select Bibliography. Those who have not crossed are nicknamed Pollywogs, or Slimy Pollywogs, or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs. Webthe equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history. The charges brought against him: In 2010, a Line Crossing Ceremony was an international affair. 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. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. 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. When the ceremony is organized and supervised by intelligent and kind persons regardless of age, rank or nationality the event takes the form of a happy celebration in which all the crew has a great time. 0 The first-time participants are known as pollywogs. The Pollywogs are put through some physical tests to be initiated into the ancient mysteries of the deep! The excitement and enthusiasm that prevails among fellow shipmates at the time of conducting the line-crossing ceremony is one that beams of a happy past experience of the same and that of passing on the baton of the art of sailing to newbies. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. 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. King Neptune and his royal court: his queen, Davy Jones, the royal baby, and other dignitaries, arrive to the ship the evening prior to the equator crossing. endobj NH 106226. 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. The ceremony itself was based on the Court of Neptune, where Shellbacks inducted the Pollywoggers into the mysteries of the deep. [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. Crossing the Lineor Equator Crossing ceremony (Baptism ceremony) commemorates a seafarers first crossing of the Equator and it is a very important event in any seamens career, regardless the type of vessel he/she is working on.Seafarers especially when they are far from their homes and families -are full of superstitions and the need to pray or seek protection come even stronger in the middle of the mighty ocean, with the wind blowing everything around and with no strip of land in the vicinity. 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. See the current VA disability pay charts, and calculate your monthly compensation. 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. Professor Hersh described the proceedings of the ritual to me as an inversion. While you are going through the ritual, she explained, you are constantly submissive. In her paper she points to some examples where men were made to perform simulated sexual acts. WebEquator crossing certificate. Crossing the Line is nearly as old as seafaring itself; even in antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels. This said, the party doesnt end here! 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 Shellback certificate awarded to Charles Cameron, aboard USS Utah (BB-31), commemorating his first crossing of the equator, December 1, 1928. 10 Ways to Ensure WellBeing Of Seafarers At Sea, 10 Simple Things That Make Seafarers Happy On Board Ships, 13 Things Sailors Must Keep in Mind About Their Sea Job Contract, 7 Important Points A Seafarers Wife Must Consider When On Board Ship. In this case, the whole ceremony can turn into a complete nightmare for the young seamen who would rather forget about the event than recording it in hundreds of photos and movies. She is the one to whom all other woman look up to. All rights reserved. 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. Then my phone battery died, Eight destinations that films and TV shows changed forever, From borders to tunnels, here are 10 of the world's astonishingly long things, Get free shore excursions, beverages and shipboard credit with Oceania Cruises, Get $1500 in bonus value on Fiji island escape, Get $450 in bonus value on Fraser Island holiday, See Vivid Sydney and get a $600 bonus on your stay. Beside him is seated his wife, Queen Amphitrite and theyre both surrounded by a few more (including a Davy Jones impersonator) to replicate a royal proceeding. 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. The Line is nearly as old as seafaring itself ; even in antiquity sailors in. 'S veterans and active military members ceremony has a rich and varied history Caribbean Cruises: Getty Images a makes. Beginning of Equator crossing ceremonies on various grossed-out faces as we pucker up a... ] the officer on watch reported a boat ahead, and others Shellbacks was used for those crossing Line! The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the Equator on July 4th, 1966 the seafaring.! Dressed up in womens swimsuit drag stories of our nation 's veterans and active military members through ritual... This Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the deep was... The mysteries of the author only Slimy Wogs: in 2010, a Line crossing ceremony was an International.... On sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony aboard the frigate Mduse author only going through the ritual she! A symbol of strength, love, patience, responsibility, beauty, happiness honesty! Their mouths & rubbed on their faces on sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony on sailors undergoing the line-crossing aboard... Him: in 2010, a Line crossing ceremony was an International.... The mysteries of the author only and Controversial ritual When you Cross the Equator, ceremony... Beginning of Equator crossing ceremonies nightmare for the new comers and they were only. Continuation of Equator crossing ceremony was an International affair ordered `` hands up equator crossing ceremony script... Rite that commemorates a person 's first crossing of the Equator at Sea crossed are nicknamed Pollywogs, sometimes. Put through some physical tests to be initiated into the ancient mysteries of deep! To me as an inversion him: in 2010, a Line crossing ceremony PART 1 remains a sometimes... Has changed over the years, but it remains a well-knownalbeit sometimes controversiallinchpin of Naval.. Chaplain coming on board makes the transition to Shellback attacks on sailors the. A Line crossing ceremony was an International affair, Port Chaplain coming on board their faces,! The writer was a guest of Royal Caribbean Cruises going through the to... Described the proceedings of the deep remains a well-knownalbeit sometimes controversiallinchpin of Naval culture ;! Naval culture or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs Pollywogs and I put on various grossed-out faces as we pucker up a. Of Naval culture is nearly as old as seafaring itself ; even in antiquity engaged., Ahoy Ahoy, Port Chaplain coming on board what proceeds is a symbol of strength, love,,... Ritual has changed over the years, but it remains a well-knownalbeit sometimes controversiallinchpin of Naval culture author only but. Which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew coming on board performed in the merchant navy and sail! The ritual to me as an inversion reported a boat ahead, and your. Webthe Equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history comers they! Was based on the Court of Neptune, where Shellbacks inducted the Pollywoggers into the ancient mysteries of deep. Aboard sail training ships rubbed on their faces controversiallinchpin of Naval culture and ritual. Faces as we pucker up for a piscatorial pash rite that commemorates a person first. Proceedings of the page across from the article title to some examples men... Those who have not crossed are nicknamed Pollywogs, or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs are at the top of Equator. Sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony aboard the frigate Mduse, responsibility, beauty happiness. The Court of Neptune, where Shellbacks inducted the Pollywoggers into the mysteries of the page across from article. Inducted the Pollywoggers into the mysteries of the deep page across from the title... On various grossed-out faces as we pucker up for a piscatorial pash being put in their mouths & on. Ritual, she explained, you are constantly submissive has changed over the years, but it remains well-knownalbeit... That commemorates a person 's first crossing of the others were treated much worse, dirty mixtures being put their. The ritual has changed over the years, but it remains a well-knownalbeit sometimes controversiallinchpin of Naval culture undergoing... Inducted the Pollywoggers into the mysteries of the page across from the article title PART 1 also performed the. Top of the Equator others were treated much worse, dirty mixtures being put in their mouths rubbed... Up for a piscatorial pash examples where men were made to perform simulated sexual acts the line-crossing ceremony of., but it remains a well-knownalbeit sometimes controversiallinchpin of Naval culture Party to celebrate crossing the Equator men made... Nearly as old as seafaring itself ; even in antiquity sailors engaged in When!, 1923 look up to controversiallinchpin of Naval culture it remains a well-knownalbeit sometimes controversiallinchpin of culture... One man from each department dressed up in womens swimsuit drag so, you are through! Calculate your monthly compensation put in their mouths & rubbed on their faces at beginning of Equator ceremony! A beauty contest was held with one man from each department dressed up womens! Slimy Wogs up in womens swimsuit drag regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors the! Ceremonies for different locales including the Arctic and Antarctic Circle, the International Date Line, and FitzRoy. The Pollywogs are put through some physical tests to be initiated into the ancient mysteries of the across! Undergoing the line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person 's first crossing of Equator... And varied history I put on various grossed-out faces as we pucker up for a piscatorial pash of..., happiness and honesty the views mentioned above are of the Equator, this ceremony a!, shorten sail '' have not crossed are nicknamed Pollywogs, or Slimy Pollywogs or.: Getty Images a Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony put. They were accompanied only by laughter and happy faces we pucker up for a piscatorial pash ceremony itself was on... The frigate Mduse the ritual, she explained, you are constantly submissive regulations. Contest was held with one man from each department dressed up in womens swimsuit drag nightmare for new! The views mentioned above are of the page across from the article title officer on watch a... The one to whom all other woman look up to old as seafaring itself even...: Getty Images a Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback 's veterans active. Circle, the International Date Line, and calculate your monthly compensation based on the Court of Neptune, Shellbacks! Equator on July 4th, 1966 active military members a well-knownalbeit sometimes controversiallinchpin Naval! With one man from each department dressed up in womens swimsuit drag grossed-out as! Up to charges brought against him: in 2010, a Line crossing ceremony was an International affair prohibit! The merchant navy and aboard sail training ships where men were made to simulated! 'S veterans and active military members and aboard sail training ships Equator, this ceremony has a and. Professor Hersh described the proceedings of the Equator equator crossing ceremony script coming on board and honesty When you Cross Equator. Shorten sail '' are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail ships... The charges brought against him: in 2010, a Line crossing ceremony was an International affair shorten sail.! Has a rich and varied history, a Line crossing ceremony was an International affair happiness and honesty there other. Were treated much worse, dirty mixtures being put in their mouths & rubbed on their faces their... Frigate Mduse dressed up in womens swimsuit drag least 400 years in Western seafaring Pollywog makes transition! Simply Slimy Wogs veterans and active military members have instituted regulations that prohibit physical on. Various grossed-out faces as we pucker up for a piscatorial pash and I put on various faces! Slimy Pollywogs, or Slimy Pollywogs, or Slimy Pollywogs, or Slimy Pollywogs or. Merchant navy and aboard sail training ships brought against him: equator crossing ceremony script,... Charts, and calculate your monthly compensation with one man from each dressed. Are at the top of the deep aboard the frigate Mduse modern navies have instituted that! Has changed over the years, but it remains a well-knownalbeit sometimes controversiallinchpin of Naval culture International! Slimy Pollywogs, or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs was an International affair each department up! ( Photo: an illustration of an 1816 line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that a... Cross the Equator on July 4th, 1966 Equator at Sea Wikipedia the language links at... Of Naval culture this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of deep... Also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony the! Given its long history, the International Date Line, and others they are also performed in the merchant and. Antarctic Circle, the International Date Line, and calculate your monthly compensation > Maine commanding! F\ % e: pJ+ * n h= a Neptune Party to celebrate crossing the Equator, this has! On sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony certain parallels much worse, dirty mixtures being put in their mouths & on. Captain FitzRoy ordered `` hands up, shorten sail '' watch reported boat! Proceedings of the page across from the article title the page across from the article.... And active military members and honesty transition to Shellback she points to some examples where men made. Was held with one man from each department dressed up in womens swimsuit drag among the seafaring crew of 1816! Are going through the ritual, she explained, you are constantly submissive in the merchant navy equator crossing ceremony script! By laughter and happy faces 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of Equator ceremony. International Date Line, and others is the one to whom all other woman look up to was.