xWMo0W$NHP3lK[miP2c'g=VB"=d3q3oLP\.X~bSFK As they approached the equator on the evening of 16 February 1832, a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship. King Neptune Ceremony on board the Polish shipChrzest Rwnikowy. What is Maritime English and Why It Is Important? Hersh mentioned how the ceremony morphed as more people entered the Navy. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. (Photo: An illustration of an 1816 line-crossing ceremony aboard the frigate Mduse. 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)! 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 scepter is laid forth to mark this moment of truth. This is how #EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. These roles are all played by shellbacksthose who have gone through the ritual before. For instance, blackface was a common element of it before World War II, but once integration hit the military that part stopped. Veterans United Home Loans provided more VA Home Loans by volume than any other lender as of Oct. 2022. Lastly, the Pollywogs take a royal bath in a pool of sea water before being declared Shellbacks, after which they receive their certificates, which they can proudly hang on their wall at home. 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. 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. 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. This having completed, an entire round of the shop is taken to commemorate the event altogether. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. In more than one instance, sailors were reported to have been killed while participating in a line-crossing ceremony. [10], U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt described his crossing-the-line ceremony aboard the "Happy Ship" USSIndianapolis with his "Jolly Companions" in a letter to his wife Eleanor Roosevelt on 26 November 1936. 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. hVYoH+=#E Mclu"m*~Ks4/ mF[S,N8Z tpX#?H8Aao5Fh7FAc1!)o5Sq. 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. Columbia, Download image. 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. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. For research trips there are both scientists and crew members hired to maintain the ship. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. A fun staple of modern cruising, such ceremonies have a long maritime history and have been used for centuries as a morale booster on long voyages. Fortunately no head shaving but the foul mixture was foul in the extreme. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. Youwill see old military footage from an actual King Neptune Ceremony. 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. Following the dip, raw eggs are broken onto the heads of the first timers and then they are made to drink a deadly concoction of beer, chilly sauce, raw eggs etc. 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. 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. King Neptune's First Mate was called Davy Jones and the Second Mate was called Her Highness Amphitrite. Naval History and Heritage Command. #marinersgalaxy, A post shared by marinersgalaxy.com (@mariners_galaxy) on May 2, 2020 at 9:10am PDT, google.com, pub-5737237464543751, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0, My name is Oana and I come from Romania. The charges brought against him: In 2010, a Line Crossing Ceremony was an international affair. This is typical of certificates awarded in the pre-WWII period. WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. [citation needed]. What proceeds is a day of festivities, which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. The whole ship was a shower bath: & water was flying about in every direction: of course not one person, even the Captain, got clear of being wet through." The new disability compensation rates took effect on December 1, 2022. The Royal Canadian Navy named them Tadpoles or Griffins. 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. [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. [citation needed] The Wogs are made very aware that it will be much harder on them if they do anything like this. NH 106226. 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. Other various dignitary titles were given to the officers who officiated the ceremony. On the open sea, even the leader of a great nation must answer to King Neptune. This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. Webthe equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history. There are other similar ceremonies for different locales including the Arctic and Antarctic Circle, the International Date Line, and others. The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. After breakfast, which is made too spicy for the Pollywogs to eat, the accused appear before King Neptune, who sits in judgment. 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. Anything else the Shellbacks could think of. 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. Taking liberties with the piscatorial subjects of His Majesty Neptunus Rex. 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). 18, While now its as much a spectacle as it is a test, the line-crossing ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality. The seamen who have already crossed the equator are referred to as Shellbacks (or, Sons Of Neptune) and those who havent are called Pollywogs. 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. 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. For a while, said Hersh, some boats tried to stop the ceremonies from even happening. This is the beginning of a line-crossing ceremony, a centuries-old ritual to inaugurate Equator-crossing virgins. Dancing, song, skits or poetry count among the merriment. King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. Some people may find this a silly game, but seafarers know for certain that receiving the blessing from the God of the Sea is always an honor and must be regarded as such.Equator Crossing ceremony is just a humble way of recognizing Neptune as Master of the Seas and all the seafarers who receive Neptunes permission to sail his waters have to be celebrated and congratulated by all the crew on board. He thought it was beneficial to morale. 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. Beatings were often still common, usually with wet firehoses, and several World War II Navy deck logs speak of sailors visiting sick bay after crossing the line. 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. WebEquator crossing certificate. NH 106226. 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. Line-crossing Ceremony: Homophobic or Homoerotic? 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. WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. endobj ae. Thanks for reading and watching my BLINK. Webthe equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history. She recalled the innovative costumes and how almost everyone on the ship was involved. The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. Y5 Qq;ye>f26&%`M*+*l]H'BNo):-"XE9{4j"Lg@) iV*BN^SBs\-L~N%$uEF7IQfs}`2m~)lMk'C/Cclf[#jFv5OT\S 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. All the same, its not a secret. and Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. 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. The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. It was also called crossing the line. 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