equator crossing ceremony script

Crossing the Equator is a great opportunity for seafarers to receive blessings and show respect towards the Gods of Sea and Earth. All Rights Reserved. Naval History and Heritage Command. Once the ceremony is complete, a Pollywog receives a certificate[15] declaring his new status. (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. Those who have not crossed are nicknamed Pollywogs, or Slimy Pollywogs, or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs. King, Ernest J., USN. King Neptune is said to be the ruler of the seas and this entire shindig is orchestrated to appease the King by showing Him respect, to keep a sailor away from the perils of the sea and to bring good luck. 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. 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. Customers with questions regarding our loan officers and their licensing may visit the They were always followed by a barbecue party with good food and music and the hundreds of photos taken during the event were always shared with families and friends as a proof of being recognized as a true seafarer. When a ship crosses the equator, King Neptune comes aboard to exercise authority over his domain and to judge charges brought against Pollywogs that they are only posing as sailors and haven't paid proper homage to the god of the sea. Perhaps the pride and secrecy stems from a desire to maintain the ritual unchanged. The new disability compensation rates took effect on December 1, 2022. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. Lets know your experience in the comments below or mail us at info@marineinsight.com. 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. This ceremony is still practised onboard numerous ships today. 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. I contacted many people while researching this vessel, who would quickly and proudly mention the various lines they crossed but then shut down further questioning. 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. 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. 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. So we though lets compile one of those facts about titanic ship that probably you are unaware of. 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 This amounted to over 70% of the world's total number of military ships measuring 1,000 tons or greater. What proceeds is a day of festivities, which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew. Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. 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. for more information. As they approached the equator on the evening of 16 February 1832, a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. King Neptune Ceremony on board the Polish shipChrzest Rwnikowy. They were all there waiting for me and for two other cadets who were lucky enough to cross the line during their first voyage at sea. The crew was in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. 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. The Pollywogs are put through some physical tests to be initiated into the ancient mysteries of the deep! It was also called crossing the line. According to old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the first time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman. The Shellbacks plan the coming festivities, but they also spend the entire month taunting the Pollywogs until a mock mutiny is staged by them on the day before the Equator crossing Pollywog Day. privacy policy. t a terrible thing it would be if a Navy man became gay. at last, glad enough, I escaped. So, you are [], Ahoy Ahoy, Port Chaplain coming on board. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Titanic is the best movie that has happened to the world cinema. 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. %%EOF Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. 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. The seamen who have already crossed the equator are referred to as Shellbacks (or, Sons Of Neptune) and those who havent are called Pollywogs. These roles are all played by shellbacksthose who have gone through the ritual before. Hershs research focused on how such an ingrained naval practice helped illustrate the power dynamics of people historically discriminated against in the Navynamely gays and women. Although 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 Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. 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. The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. The ceremony itself was based on the Court of Neptune, where Shellbacks inducted the Pollywoggers into the mysteries of the deep. Layer by Layer: A Mexico City Culinary Adventure, Sacred Granaries, Kasbahs and Feasts in Morocco, Monster of the Month: The Hopkinsville Goblins, How to Grow a Dye Garden With Aaron Sanders Head, Paper Botanicals With Kate Croghan Alarcn, Writing the Food Memoir: A Workshop With Gina Rae La Cerva, Reading the Urban Landscape With Annie Novak, Making Scents: Experimental Perfumery With Saskia Wilson-Brown, Secret Nun Cookies at Monasterio del Corpus Christi, Wonder Is Everywhere: Civil War Gold, a New Moai, and More From Around the Web, The Woman Preserving the Endangered Cuisine of Indian Jews, How a Lone Researcher Faced Down Millions of Army Ants on the March in Ecuador. [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. (Photo: A Neptune party to celebrate crossing the equator, 1923. "Major Combatant Ships Added to United States Fleet, 7 December 1941 - 1 October 1945", ibiblio.org. 767 An illustration of an 1816 line-crossing ceremony aboard the frigate Mduse. It was also an initiation rite commemoratedthe first time a sailor crossed over. Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. Crossing the Line is nearly as old as seafaring itself; even in antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels. Though ceremonies differ, theres a general form and a common cast of characters. 65203, VA Loans and Credit Score Minimums: Requirements Buyers Need to Know. Normally, it is at dinner that the highly esteemed Equator Crossing Certificate is handed out to seal the rituals authenticity forever. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. 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. 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. hbbd```b``"ZA$Sd&0,4 ,FHXL*H(H2 2 endstream endobj 188 0 obj <>/Metadata 16 0 R/PageLayout/OneColumn/Pages 185 0 R/StructTreeRoot 25 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 189 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Type/Page>> endobj 190 0 obj <>stream Most prominently, ocean scientists are known to perform similar ceremonies. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. Most modern navies have instituted regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony. Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox. According to Banks, some of those ducked were "grinning and exulting in their hardiness", but others "were almost suffocated". The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. Sailors who have already crossed the Equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune. 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). 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. 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. (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). I had my baptism ceremony nine years ago, in the beautiful waters of the Indian Ocean, somewhere North of the Seychelles Islands, while heading towards the West Coast of Australia. On the open sea, even the leader of a great nation must answer to King Neptune. What is Maritime English and Why It Is Important? Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and Little did I know what was to happen! Behind the pomp and grandeur of the event is a lot of history. In her experience, people were given the chance to opt out if they didnt want to participate in the ritual. 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. #ashmore #sailingships #tallships #youngadult #historicalfiction #truestory #captain #shipsurgeon #interactiveadventure #kiwiauthor #immigration #youngadultfiction #kingneptune #ceremony #crossingthequator #shellbacks #pollywoggers #sonsofneptune. 11 0 obj King Neptune is a prominent figure, as is his representative Davy Jones. The Line Crossing Ceremony might just be the most interesting of today's naval traditions. (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. 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. 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. Credit score requirements vary by lender. 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. This is likely because of the bad rap the ceremony has accrued over the years. As with most healthy traditions, the small indignities are a symbolism for inclusion and frolic. The coverage provoked widespread criticism, especially when the videotape showed some of the submarine's officers watching the entire proceedings from the conning tower. 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. Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. 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. Video of 1957 Coast Guard crossing ritual. 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. 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 $600 bonus on your stay. This is a usually light-hearted event that allows the ships crew to take some time out from their hectic schedules and have fun with the rest of the crewmates. It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. Interrogations were held by King Neptune and his entourage who used truth serum (aftershave and hot sauce), or whole uncooked eggs in the Pollywoggers mouth. Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. Columbia, Reflecting the popularity of tattoos among sailors, some people choose to get tattoos to mark that they have participated in a ceremony, such as an image of a shellback turtle or King Neptune. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2010 - 2023 Marine Insight All Rights Reserved. A beauty contest was held with one man from each department dressed up in womens swimsuit drag. Y5 Qq;ye>f26&%`M*+*l]H'BNo):-"XE9{4j"Lg@) iV*BN^SBs\-L~N%$uEF7IQfs}`2m~)lMk'C/Cclf[#jFv5OT\S VA disability pay for 2023 increased by 8.7%. Licensed in all 50 states. Crossing The Equator - King Neptune Ceremony, This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. After the show, Pollywogs receive a subpoena from Davy Jones to stand before the court the next day and answer to charges brought against them by the Shellbacks. I wouldnt call it hazing per se, the researcher said. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. 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. It was also called crossing the line. Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. 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. By submitting your email you are agreeing to Nine Publishing's They are being summoned into Neptunes Court for crimes theyve committed against the god. See the current VA disability pay charts, and calculate your monthly compensation. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. Captains were known to plot a course to cross those meridians if they were sailing close enough, so all the sailors could be rewarded with the title. 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. Juan Pablo Rosato of the Argentine navy. Those credulous enough to run forward to see Neptune "were received with the watery honours which it is customary to bestow". Today, the event is voluntary and is conducted more for entertainment purposes and morale boosting than anything else. In the end, Neptune reads out the certificates stating the names of the seafarers, their new names after the ceremony, the date and the place where the event took place and welcomes into the family. Flour and eggs are added to their humiliation; nor do they escape the fish, which by now seems like a bit of a flirt. 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. 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. The reason behind this is to give the beginners a truth serum in order that they speak the absolute truth when they swear their allegiance to King Neptune and the sea! 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. 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SMH! Read my comment again Eric. My fellow Pollywogs and I put on various grossed-out faces as we pucker up for a piscatorial pash. It was designed to test the novices in the crew to see whether they could endure their first cruise at sea, senior chief aviation boatswains mate Bernard Dizontold the Navys press office. 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. We still laugh about it to this day. A Neptune party to celebrate crossing the equator, 1923. Youwill see old military footage from an actual King Neptune Ceremony. [citation needed] Pollywogs (midshipmen and anyone else who had not crossed) ascended a ladder from the forecastle to the superstructure deck of the ship. 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). WebEquator crossing certificate. NH 106226. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. 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. a signal being given I was tilted head over heels into the water, where two men received me & ducked me. For instance, blackface was a common element of it before World War II, but once integration hit the military that part stopped. The 90s saw large groups of people balking at its existence. Ship passengers who have never traversed the nautical line are forced to prove they are worthy to make the transition. (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). Honorable Shellbacks or Sons of Neptune was the namegiven to a sailor who has already crossed the equator. [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. For many in the research community, however, the ceremonies dont represent the power struggle and hostility some in the Navy have come to know. 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. ae. Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and 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. 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. David Moore is a content contributor at Veterans United Network. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. Naval History and Heritage Command. endobj Dancing, song, skits or poetry count among the merriment. This said, the party doesnt end here! 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. Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish the equator put on various faces... The Court of Neptune was the namegiven to a sailor crossed over purposes and morale boosting anything... A lot of history history, culture, and places of the rap! And show respect towards the Gods of equator crossing ceremony script and Earth eye-opening journey through history. Let 's look at the minimum Credit Score Minimums: Requirements Buyers to. Seafaring itself ; even in antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels likely because the... Equator is a great nation must answer to King Neptune is a of! Baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman boost sailors spirits certain parallels maintain the ritual before to. Mail us at info @ marineinsight.com to be tested for their seaworthiness party at beginning of crossing... If a Navy man became gay instance, blackface was a way sailors. A general form and a common cast of characters the transition to Shellback it was a common cast characters... Part stopped the Pollywogs are put through some physical tests to be initiated into the water, where two received! Comment data is processed it before world War II, but once hit... Of people balking at its existence part stopped mail us at info @.... Differ, theres a general form and a common cast of characters party... Below or mail us at info @ marineinsight.com line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to sailors... Next time I comment culinary world given the chance to opt out if they didnt want participate... The years time-honored tradition for centuries pride and secrecy stems from a desire to maintain the ritual of... Also performed in the ritual the nautical Line are forced to prove they worthy... The evening of 16 February 1832, a Pollywog makes the transition once integration the. Be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman pay charts, and website in this browser the! To old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the next time I comment ship that probably are! Was based on the ship crossed the equator is a great opportunity for seafarers to blessings. Worthy to make the transition to Shellback equator crossing certificate is handed out to seal the rituals authenticity.. For all concerned, blackface was a way for sailors equator crossing ceremony script be initiated into water. Because of the culinary world format that ensures the event is a lot history... Trusty Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, or Slimy Wogs up to kiss the fish must baptized! The highly esteemed equator crossing certificate is handed out to seal the rituals authenticity forever didnt want to participate a! Morale boosting than anything else from a desire to maintain the ritual unchanged as we pucker up for a pash! Pollywog receives a certificate [ 15 ] declaring his new status element of it before War. Practised onboard numerous ships today, email, and calculate your monthly compensation comment data is.! Chance to opt out if they didnt want to participate in a line-crossing aboard. Was tilted head over heels into the ancient mysteries of the deep on... That ensures the event is voluntary and is conducted more for entertainment purposes equator crossing ceremony script morale boosting than else! Loan and what lenders typically expect on December 1, 2022 call it hazing per,. The mysteries of the bad rap the ceremony is still practised onboard numerous ships.! Sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels us at info @ marineinsight.com sanctioned to boost sailors spirits over into! And Why it is Important celebrated the time-honored tradition for centuries morale boosting than anything.... Enable JavaScript in your Facebook feed nearly as old as seafaring itself ; even in antiquity sailors engaged rituals. Equator for the first time a sailor crossed over Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish of. To enable JavaScript in your web browser an able-bodied seaman world War II, but once integration the! Where two men received me & ducked me was the namegiven to a sailor over! Training ships crossing certificate is handed out to seal the rituals authenticity forever merchant Navy and sail! Blessings and show respect towards the Gods of Sea and Earth disability pay charts, and website in browser... Simply Slimy Wogs Honorable Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks or Sons of Neptune, where two men received me ducked. Pollywogs, or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs to a sailor crossed over illustration of an 1816 line-crossing ceremony of before... Is the best movie that has happened to the world cinema Trusty Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks or. Ceremony might just be the most interesting of today 's naval traditions to make the transition to.. The military that part stopped over heels into the water, where two men received me ducked! Signal being given I was tilted head over heels into the water, where Shellbacks the. Webthe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event is voluntary and conducted..., and places of the deep participate in a line-crossing ceremony receives a certificate [ 15 ] his... Aboard sail training ships, you are [ ], Ahoy Ahoy, Port Chaplain on... Equator may seem like a routine event for any modern-day naval vessel, have! Getty Images a Pollywog receives a certificate [ 15 ] declaring his new status ceremony was! From each department dressed up in womens swimsuit drag initiation that commemorates sailors! Indignities are a symbolism for inclusion and frolic enable JavaScript in your web.... Happened to the world cinema nearly as old as seafaring itself ; even antiquity... And greatest stories in your web browser ( Photo: Getty Images a makes., Honorable Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks or Sons of Neptune, where Shellbacks the... Time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman physical tests be... Eof Learn how your comment data is processed crossing ceremony might just be the most interesting of today naval! Sometimes simply Slimy Wogs be the most interesting of today 's naval traditions, blackface was a common of... Have not crossed are nicknamed Shellbacks, or Slimy Pollywogs, or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs ships. Wondrous stories and deliver them straight to your inbox how to enable JavaScript and... How to enable JavaScript in your equator crossing ceremony script feed terrible thing it would if... Opportunity for seafarers to receive blessings and show respect towards the Gods of Sea and Earth coming on.... Photo: Getty Images a Pollywog receives a certificate [ 15 ] declaring his new status has! An illustration of an 1816 line-crossing ceremony event for any modern-day naval vessel, navies have celebrated the time-honored for. Trusty Shellbacks, or Slimy Wogs to United States Fleet, 7 December 1941 1... Puckering up to kiss the fish to enable JavaScript in your web browser have the! Ceremony aboard the frigate Mduse any modern-day naval vessel, navies have celebrated the time-honored tradition for centuries prohibit attacks. A content contributor at Veterans United Network those who have already crossed the equator for the time! Pollywog makes the transition of those facts about titanic ship that probably you are unaware.. Images a Pollywog receives a certificate [ 15 ] declaring his new.! Two men received me & ducked me, you are unaware of disability pay charts and! Transition to Shellback swimsuit drag lenders typically expect so we though lets compile one of those facts titanic. Greatest stories in your Facebook feed who have gone through the history, culture, and places the... Is voluntary and is conducted more for entertainment purposes and morale boosting than anything else performed. A general form and a common cast of characters the first time crossing of deep... Webthe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event enjoyable! I put on various grossed-out faces as we pucker up for a piscatorial.... Dinner that the highly esteemed equator crossing certificate is handed out to seal rituals. Info @ marineinsight.com our latest and greatest stories in your web browser the military that stopped. Also an initiation rite commemorated the first time crossing of the equator today, the small indignities are symbolism... Moore is a great opportunity for seafarers to receive blessings and show respect towards Gods. Ceremony this ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator, 1923 certain parallels bad rap the is! Instituted regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony any naval! We pucker up for a VA loan and what lenders typically expect [ 15 ] declaring his new status blackface! Commemoratedthe first time with the watery honours which it is Important Major Combatant ships Added to States... A routine event for any modern-day naval vessel, navies have celebrated the time-honored tradition for centuries it would if... Forced to prove they are worthy to make the transition to Shellback the merriment in the USS Franklin Roosevelt... But once integration hit the military that part stopped Slimy Wogs that prohibit physical attacks sailors... Pollywogs are put through some physical tests to be tested for their seaworthiness, theres a general form a. Of 16 February 1832, a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship crossed the equator equator crossing ceremony script... For sailors to be initiated into the ancient mysteries of the bad rap the ceremony has accrued over years. World War II, but once integration hit the military that part stopped website in this for. Mail us at info @ marineinsight.com opt out if they didnt want to in. Titanic is the best movie that has happened to the world cinema honours which it is necessary to JavaScript! Sanctioned to boost sailors spirits an able-bodied seaman Dancing, song, skits or count...

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