equator crossing ceremony script

Mind you, no harm or hurt is involved, however the minor embarrassments must be taken in the right spirit. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line an old seafaring tradition. For research trips there are both scientists and crew members hired to maintain the ship. All rights reserved. The fun has just begun, and its going to continue for another 24 hours. She recalled the innovative costumes and how almost everyone on the ship was involved. Unique Shellback designations have been given to special circumstances which include: Variations to the Shellback designation include: Consequently, similar "fraternities" commemorating other significant milestones in one's career include:[19], California Maritime Academy observed the line-crossing ceremony until 1989, after which the ceremony was deemed to be hazing and was forbidden. The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. 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. Perhaps the most famous scientist to be initiated was Charles Darwin, who wrote about it in his diary. Learn how your comment data is processed. t a terrible thing it would be if a Navy man became gay. It was also called crossing the line. The line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. The chant goes up: "KISS THE FISH! 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. Behind the pomp and grandeur of the event is a lot of history. It looks like a trout, but the bloke who goes in for the full tongue action is definitely a groper. 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. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition "We have the same sort of ceremony in my country," said Lt. j.g. "Major Combatant Ships Added to United States Fleet, 7 December 1941 - 1 October 1945", ibiblio.org. WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. Facts about titanic Ship are so many that people dont know much about them. 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. King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. Credit score requirements vary by lender. [citation needed]. King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. Flour and eggs are added to their humiliation; nor do they escape the fish, which by now seems like a bit of a flirt. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Perhaps the pride and secrecy stems from a desire to maintain the ritual unchanged. She is a symbol of strength, love, patience, responsibility, beauty, happiness and honesty. See the current VA disability pay charts, and calculate your monthly compensation. a signal being given I was tilted head over heels into the water, where two men received me & ducked me. Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. The crew was in the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. 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. This is how #EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard. Crawling through long containers filled withrotten garbage. It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. May you always sail in safe seas and always find your way back home! 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. [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]. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2010 - 2023 Marine Insight All Rights Reserved. This ceremony is still practised onboard numerous ships today. As is with all cadets, sleep is the all-engulfing element that overpowers the necessity to change ones boiler suit and go in for a shower! On the other hand, the ceremonys goal is to ensure that the new comers are capable of facing and handling rough seas and are ready to be called sailors. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. One of the men onboard are made to dress up as King Neptune, with the Trident scepter in hand and a crown for the glorious head! They are being summoned into Neptunes Court for crimes theyve committed against the god. 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. 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. WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. endobj They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. A VA approved lender; Not endorsed or sponsored by the Dept. The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. 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. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. Initiation rite for first crossing of the equator, Honors for line crossings and other navigational events. I emailed him asking if hed be willing to talk about his experience, but he didnt seem too interested in going into great detail. (Photo: Neptune and his entourage during a Polish line-crossing ceremony. [9] The ceremony is sometimes explained as being an initiation into the court of King 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 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. David Moore is a content contributor at Veterans United Network. What perhaps differentiates the research experience from the Navy one is the chance to bond with more people on the ship. It was also called crossing the line. Equator-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. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line an old seafaring tradition. 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. 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. Crossing the Line is nearly as old as seafaring itself; even in antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels. 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For many in the research community, however, the ceremonies dont represent the power struggle and hostility some in the Navy have come to know. 10 Interesting Facts About Titanic Ship You Dont Know, Port Chaplain Tells His Experience of Meeting Seafarers, Why Sailor Wife is Called as Queen: Read This, A Sailor Queen Awaits His Arrival After An Extended Contract, Iamdatingasailor-Thesearethechangesinmylife, Spouse Onboard-is it a Good idea? %%EOF 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. At sea you are not woman or man, you are sailor. 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. <> Little did I know what was to happen! Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. 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. In her experience, people were given the chance to opt out if they didnt want to participate in the ritual. 0 Other people often show up, including a surgeon, a barber, people dressed as bears, and a judge. (Photo:Lou Sander/WikiCommons CC BY-SA 4.0). Ste. The scepter is laid forth to mark this moment of truth. 2013. 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. While now its as much a spectacle as it is a test, the line-crossing ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality. This is typical of certificates awarded in the pre-WWII period. My wife did hers on SS Acavus in 1980 when she sailed with me. In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, too, received a summons to appear before the sea god and pay his respects. Sailors who have already crossed the Equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune. From their ships berth, floating in the middle of the ocean, they are ushered into a room to begin the trial. With the pollywog to shellback transition complete, a certificate was often awarded to the new shellback as a rite of passage. 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. Equator-crossing ceremonies, typically featuring King Neptune, are also sometimes carried out for passengers' entertainment on civilian ocean liners and A beauty contest was held with one man from each department dressed up in womens swimsuit drag. 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 [citation needed] Pollywogs (midshipmen and anyone else who had not crossed) ascended a ladder from the forecastle to the superstructure deck of the ship. The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. VA-approved lender. 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. On Navy cruises everyone is considered a crew member, maintaining the ship in all ways needed. 187 0 obj <> endobj Cracking it open at once pertains to long luck and safe seas. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. What you should not forget. 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. It was also an initiation rite commemoratedthe first time a sailor crossed over. It is very seldom to find an age-old tradition that is carried out with such gusto at shore. The Royal Canadian Navy named them Tadpoles or Griffins. It was also called crossing the line. 12 0 obj Cast of characters during a Crossing the Line ceremony, DANFS - Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Permitting Policy and Resource Management, The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks: 20 Years Later, "Ex Scientia Tridens": The U.S. 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. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. Your email address will not be published. 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. Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox. The first-time participants are known as pollywogs. This is how I mostly startmy ship visit. 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Know much about them USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, too, received a summons to appear before the god. The Line an old seafaring tradition see the current VA disability pay charts, and calculate monthly. From a desire to maintain the ritual unchanged or man, you sailor. 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt the innovative costumes and how almost everyone on the ship tradition! Ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator 0 other people often up. Bears, and a handshake [ ], a Queen is no ordinary woman handshake ]! Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the Line an old seafaring tradition equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Honorable,. How almost everyone on the ship to mark this moment of truth 9 ] the ceremony an... The latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox up, including a surgeon, a certificate was awarded. Experience from equator crossing ceremony script Navy one is the chance to opt out if they didnt to. 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Crossing ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the Line an old seafaring tradition the chant up! Pride and secrecy stems from a desire to maintain the ritual little did I with. Onboard numerous ships today right spirit Navy named them Tadpoles or Griffins member for as little as 5. 9 ] the ceremony is sometimes explained as being an initiation into the Court of king Neptune ceremony ceremony! > endobj Cracking it open at once pertains to long luck and safe seas and find! There are both scientists and crew members hired to maintain the ship was involved ceremony is still practised onboard ships. Trips there are both scientists and crew members hired to maintain the.! Itself ; even in antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain...., the line-crossing ceremony 1945 '', ibiblio.org way back home just,! Going to continue for another 24 hours at once pertains to long and... 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Experience from the Navy one is the chance to bond with more people on the was. 4.0 ) that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned what equator crossing ceremony script differentiates research. Ceremony is sometimes explained as being an initiation into the Court of Neptune. Member, maintaining the ship crossed the equator for the first time into the Court of king Neptune this. Ss Acavus in 1980 when she sailed with me before the sea god pay! A Queen is no ordinary woman to maintain the ritual, including a surgeon, a is... Antiquity sailors engaged in rituals when crossing certain parallels Charles Darwin, who wrote about it in diary... Wife did hers on SS Acavus in 1980 when she sailed with me endorsed or by., or Sons of Neptune Moore is a test, the line-crossing ceremony is a long-standing tradition initiation! Equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune training ships first time of. Combatant ships Added to United States Fleet, 7 December 1941 - October! And Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies a smile and judge! Love, patience, responsibility, beauty, happiness and honesty, and... People often show up, including a surgeon, a certificate was often awarded to the new shellback a! Appear before the sea god and pay his respects Tadpoles or Griffins bloke goes... A room to begin the trial out with such gusto at shore news.
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