The ceremony is carefully orchestrated by the ship's officers, with some sailors reporting the events to be lackluster due to the removal of the rites of initiation. At sea you are not woman or man, you are sailor. Licensed in all 50 states. 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. For research trips there are both scientists and crew members hired to maintain the ship. 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. Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. They were expected to endure hardships or initiations ordered by King Neptune, the Captain for their sins. This amounted to over 70% of the world's total number of military ships measuring 1,000 tons or greater. 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. 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. 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. I remember the shock I had as soon as I discovered that half of the Filipinos on board were gathered there, some of them dressed up like pirates with funny dresses, tattoos, wigs made up from cleaning mops and a whole arsenal of wooden weapons. According to Banks, some of those ducked were "grinning and exulting in their hardiness", but others "were almost suffocated". 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. The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. 1400 Forum Blvd. On the open sea, even the leader of a great nation must answer to King Neptune. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. 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. It was also called crossing the line. In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, too, received a summons to appear before the sea god and pay his respects. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. 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. 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 Schooner Bar pianist and crooner comes in for some particularly harsh treatment, possibly for playing Living Next Door to Alice too often. Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). 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. In 1995, a notorious line-crossing ceremony took place on the Royal Australian Navy submarine HMASOnslow. First, the new comers are cleansed with brushes and washed with sea water. Titanic is the best movie that has happened to the world cinema. MORE: Check if you meet the official VA loan requirements. King Neptune is a prominent figure, as is his representative Davy Jones. It looks like a trout, but the bloke who goes in for the full tongue action is definitely a groper. 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!). 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. During the ceremony, the Pollywogs undergo a number of increasingly embarrassing ordeals (wearing clothing inside out and backwards; crawling on hands and knees on nonskid-coated decks; being swatted with short lengths of firehose; being locked in stocks & pillories and pelted with mushy fruit; being locked in a water coffin of salt-water and bright green sea dye [fluorescent sodium salt]; crawling through chutes or large tubs of rotting garbage; kissing the Royal Baby's belly coated with axle grease, hair chopping, etc. Most prominently, ocean scientists are known to perform similar ceremonies. All rights reserved. The Pollywogs are accused of various atrocities and crimes against humanity, including pushing in at the buffet, singing karaoke out of tune and dancing without rhythm. The memory of the event sticks with people. Officers rebelled and did it anyway, which ultimately led to court martials. The older and more experienced sailors were always so happy to perform the most outrageous tricks and games on the new comers that they sometimes crossed the limits of entertainment and brought the game to a dangerous and even deadly point. The Pollywogs (also referred to as landlubbers) must be dipped in water for the initiation and passing into the realm of the seas. WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. (Photo: Shellback certificate awarded to Charles Cameron, aboard USS Utah (BB-31), commemorating his first crossing of the equator, December 1, 1928. It is therefore no wonder that the shore folk are appalled and excited at the same time when the ceremony is told to them in detail. 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 how #EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard. All rights reserved. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. 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 Greenwich Meridian didn't become the International standard until 1884, two years after the Ashmore crossed the equator. 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. Perhaps Neptunes approval doesnt depend on harassment. 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). As they approached the equator on the evening of 16 February 1832, a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship. WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. 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. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. [13] Depending on the Ocean or Fleet AOR, there can be variations in the rite. She is the one to whom all other woman look up to. WebEquator crossing certificate. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. 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. [citation needed]. Did mine in 1978 in the Indian Ocean on the SS Lepeta. [5], By the eighteenth century, there were well-established line-crossing rituals in the British Royal Navy. It was also called crossing the line. Line-crossing Ceremony: Homophobic or Homoerotic? Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. 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. Though ceremonies differ, theres a general form and a common cast of characters. 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 was very lucky to be a part of that beautiful ceremony and thanks to that captain I didnt have to witness any humiliating test. I emailed him asking if hed be willing to talk about his experience, but he didnt seem too interested in going into great detail. endobj 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. Shellback certificate awarded to Charles Cameron, aboard USS Utah (BB-31), commemorating his first crossing of the equator, December 1, 1928. Since then, I had the privilege of witnessing many ceremonies of this kind and all of them fell under the same pattern. Check out this weeks video at the bottom. 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. 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. (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. ", "List of Unofficial U.S. Navy Certificates", "The Short Snorter Project - Harry F. Revers Short Snorter", Listen to audio recordings of a Crossing the Equator ceremony. 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. Myriad approaches to conducting the ceremony will yield myriad accounts. All-Time Lows: According to interest rates published on July 31, 2020, on FreddieMac.com. The crew were expected to become seasoned-sailors, capable of handling long periods of time with rough seas. Those who have not crossed are nicknamed Pollywogs, or Slimy Pollywogs, or sometimes simply Slimy Wogs. Fortunately no head shaving but the foul mixture was foul in the extreme. So, you are [], Ahoy Ahoy, Port Chaplain coming on board. It is these little gems that bind us seafarers together in work and spirit and give us the inner strength to carry forward inspire rough seas and long periods away from home. Other various dignitary titles were given to the officers who officiated the ceremony. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. This is typical of certificates awarded in the pre-WWII period. However, most lenders have similar criteria. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. What you should not forget. Nevertheless, the ceremony is a hoot, despite the dodgy production values and a few hilarious script issues. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition Your email address will not be published. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. 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. No purchase necessary. 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. 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