equator crossing ceremony script

[9] The ceremony is sometimes explained as being an initiation into the court of King Neptune. Following almost the same steps as the Equator Crossingceremony, the first voyage ceremonymay include other tests and trials which are more appropriate for very young sailors. 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. Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and and It was also an initiation rite commemoratedthe first time a sailor crossed over. King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. 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. 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. All-Time Lows: According to interest rates published on July 31, 2020, on FreddieMac.com. 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. [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. [6], Captain Robert FitzRoy of HMSBeagle suggested the practice had developed from earlier ceremonies in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian vessels passing notable headlands. 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. The ceremony was conducted by our steward who took his role as Neptune very seriously and appointed some of the pirates to cleanse us right with soap and water. 2013. Did mine in 1978 in the Indian Ocean on the SS Lepeta. 2023 New Year, New Home $75K Veteran Homebuyer Giveaway, the Sirens and Sea Monsters of the Odyssey, Check if you meet the official VA loan requirements, Department of Veterans Affairs Lender Statistics, Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System & Directory. Fortunately no head shaving but the foul mixture was foul in the extreme. Made to kissan axle-greased Royal Babys Belly. Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. Naval History and Heritage Command. The line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. The shellbacks had prepared 3-foot lengths of canvas/rubber firehose, which they swung hard at the posterior of each Wog. Hershs research focused on how such an ingrained naval practice helped illustrate the power dynamics of people historically discriminated against in the Navynamely gays and women. Other people often show up, including a surgeon, a barber, people dressed as bears, and a judge. WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. Source: As the cruise ship Voyager of the Seas nears the equator, excitement mounts and all Pollywogs those who have never crossed the line are encouraged to register for the crossing the equator The Navy has many histories of line-crossing, and a Google search turns up numerous pictures of sailors being initiated. Hersh mentioned how the ceremony morphed as more people entered the Navy. As we approach the middle of the world, quite a few passengers rush to the rails for a look, as though there might be an actual line drawn on the ocean. Disclaimer: The views mentioned above are of the author only. Today, the event is voluntary and is conducted more for entertainment purposes and morale boosting than anything else. The ceremony observes a mariner's transformation from slimy Pollywog, a seaman who hasn't crossed the equator, to trusty Shellback, also called a Son or Daughter of Neptune. hb```>VB eaX;f8L/```b^22jtsVP 6z k$}`+9Vxyo Nk1TO4# }/$ [citation needed]. [17], As Shellback initiation is conducted by each individual ship as a morale exercise and not officially recognized by the Navy with inclusion on discharge papers (DD Form 214) or through a formally organized institution, variations of the names as well as the protocol involved in induction vary from ship to ship and service to service.[18]. The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard have well-established line-crossing rituals. 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. 65203, VA Loans and Credit Score Minimums: Requirements Buyers Need to Know. In 1995, a notorious line-crossing ceremony took place on the Royal Australian Navy submarine HMASOnslow. What perhaps differentiates the research experience from the Navy one is the chance to bond with more people on the ship. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. An illustration of an 1816 line-crossing ceremony aboard the frigate Mduse. 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. The researcher I spoke to remembered how on her trip two scientists were already in the order of shellback, so they joined the rest of the crew to help facilitate the days events. Copyright 2023 Mortgage Research Center, LLC. Then the heads are shaved in the most uneven manner possible (no historical reasoning for it, but personally judging, it is most likely to do with a purging process) and paint is applied at random all over the body (privates aside!). According to Banks, some of those ducked were "grinning and exulting in their hardiness", but others "were almost suffocated". 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. Because I know with a smile and a handshake [], A Queen is no ordinary woman. Read about: Joining Ship? Required fields are marked *. (Photo: Shellback certificate awarded to Charles Cameron, aboard USS Utah (BB-31), commemorating his first crossing of the equator, December 1, 1928. 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. 6 0 obj 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. Newbies are called Pollywogs, Slimy Pollywogs or Slimy Wogs. '03aE,#M5fr0|\fs9_'_-Qrzm"\~+?NUzUwx_|],Lf,[~]lly_e)ETJJ Gz#. Other milestones such as crossing the Antarctic Circle and deep sea diving have also been adopted in this tradition. 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. This having completed, an entire round of the shop is taken to commemorate the event altogether. This ceremony is still practised onboard numerous ships today. xWMo0W$NHP3lK[miP2c'g=VB"=d3q3oLP\.X~bSFK I emailed him asking if hed be willing to talk about his experience, but he didnt seem too interested in going into great detail. a signal being given I was tilted head over heels into the water, where two men received me & ducked me. Not affiliated with any government agency. At that time, the ceremony was regarded as an initiation rite and, like all initiation rituals which are still performed among different tribes around the world,it sure made the adrenaline pumping harder especially for those in question. For instance, the ship's captain might play the part of King Neptune himself. They are being summoned into Neptunes Court for crimes theyve committed against the god. (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). Pollywogs or Slimy Pollywogs were those who have not yet crossed the line. t a terrible thing it would be if a Navy man became gay. The ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. NMLS ID #1907 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org), #1 VA Lender: Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. While now its as much a spectacle as it is a test, the line-crossing ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality. At sea you are not woman or man, you are sailor. 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. I hope all of you new comers will receive the same kind treatment as I did when I first crossed the Equator and never forget that your abilities to face and stand up the harsh seas will be tested sooner or later for real and not during the Equator Crossing Ceremony. 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. Some rites have discussed a role reversal as follows, but this is not always a normal feature, and may be dependent on whether a small number of Shellbacks exist to conduct the initiation. In the PBS documentary Carrier, filmed in 2005 (Episode 7, "Rites of Passage"), a crossing-the-line ceremony on USSNimitz is extensively documented. Its kind of a nice tradition, said one US-based ocean researcher when I asked her about her experience. So we though lets compile one of those facts about titanic ship that probably you are unaware of. Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System & Directory ae. When the ceremonies were first conducted, they were physically challenging and could even be painful or embarrassing to the Sailors. In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, too, received a summons to appear before the sea god and pay his respects. Your email address will not be published. Sailors undergoing the ceremony were physically and verbally abused before being subjected to an act called "sump on the rump", where a dark liquid was daubed over each sailor's anus and genitalia. 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. Next, the Pollywogs kneel before the King and kiss the royal baby's belly, which according to some accounts is covered in grease. 187 0 obj <> endobj This is typical of certificates awarded in the pre-WWII period. Using a speaking trumpet he questioned Neptune, who would visit them the next morning. My wife did hers on SS Acavus in 1980 when she sailed with me. 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. Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. Perhaps the most famous scientist to be initiated was Charles Darwin, who wrote about it in his diary. On the voyage of HMS Endeavour to the Pacific in 1768, captained by James Cook, Joseph Banks described how the crew drew up a list of everyone on board, including cats and dogs, and interrogated them as to whether they had crossed the equator. These roles are all played by shellbacksthose who have gone through the ritual before. Another rare status is the Golden Shellback, a person who has crossed the Equator at the 180th meridian. (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. Initiation rite for first crossing of the equator, Honors for line crossings and other navigational events. The crew was in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. 11 0 obj We still laugh about it to this day. My fellow Pollywogs and I put on various grossed-out faces as we pucker up for a piscatorial pash. 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. Dancing, song, skits or poetry count among the merriment. Ceremony is still practised onboard numerous ships today song, skits or count. ] the ceremony is still practised onboard numerous ships today me & ducked me Roosevelt, too, received summons. If a Navy man became gay shaving but the foul mixture was foul in the pre-WWII period only! Song, skits or poetry count among the merriment shellbacks had prepared 3-foot lengths canvas/rubber... Getty Images a Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called Pollywogs Slimy... Are all played by shellbacksthose who have not yet crossed the equator may seem like routine! Today, the event is voluntary and is conducted more for entertainment purposes and morale boosting than else. 31, 2020, on FreddieMac.com explained as being an initiation rite for crossing... 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