Line-crossing originated as a hazing process to transform the pollywogs into bona fide shellbacks. 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. Crossing the Equator is a great opportunity for seafarers to receive blessings and show respect towards the Gods of Sea and Earth. [6], Captain Robert FitzRoy of HMSBeagle suggested the practice had developed from earlier ceremonies in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian vessels passing notable headlands. 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)! The Equator Crossing Ceremony is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing the equator for the first time. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2010 - 2023 Marine Insight All Rights Reserved. Lets know your experience in the comments below or mail us at info@marineinsight.com. 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. 1. realtor.com is hosting and helping to administer and promote the sweepstakes. Church, Andrew. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. The crew were expected to become seasoned-sailors, capable of handling long periods of time with rough seas. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. 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). This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. 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. See the current VA disability pay charts, and calculate your monthly compensation. (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). As this scientist put it, everyone on the ship was fine with someone not participating; No one egged her in her sleep., Neptune and his entourage during a Polish line-crossing ceremony. The first-time participants are known as pollywogs. Anyone inducted is quick to say they are part of this Order, but resistant to go into more detail. It was the one where you talked about sailors becoming gay-yes that offensive. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. 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. Ship passengers who have never traversed the nautical line are forced to prove they are worthy to make the transition. People hear a knock on their door and they know it has begun. 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. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. 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. I think that being able to participate in the rite of passage with another friendly navy is always an honor and it allows us to know each other better.". 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. 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. Video of 1957 Coast Guard crossing ritual. Dancing, song, skits or poetry count among the merriment. Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. 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. It was also called crossing the line. 6 0 obj Wogs then returned to the forecastle, where they were hosed off by firehose and then allowed to kiss, in turn, the belly of the sea-baby, the foot of the sea-hag, and the ring of King Neptune, each personified by Shellbacks. Naval History and Heritage Command. It took quite a journey to make that change; early accounts of the ritual were brutal. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. A beauty contest was held with one man from each department dressed up in womens swimsuit drag. This is how #EQUATOR_CROSSING_CEREMONY is celebrated onboard. 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. This is typical of certificates awarded in the pre-WWII period. Usually, the role of Neptune is played by an experienced sailor dressed up in a funny handmade costume with other crew members acting as imaginary creatures helping him to perform the ceremony and captain acting as a mediator between the two parts. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. As with most healthy traditions, the small indignities are a symbolism for inclusion and frolic. [1] The tradition may have originated with ceremonies when passing headlands, and become a "folly" sanctioned as a boost to morale,[2] or have been created as a test for seasoned sailors to ensure their new shipmates were capable of handling long, rough voyages. %%EOF King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. 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. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. U.S. sailors and Marines participate in a line-crossing ceremony. xWMo0W$NHP3lK[miP2c'g=VB"=d3q3oLP\.X~bSFK Its even begun being offered as a participatory attraction on commercial cruise lines. 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. Why? 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. WebEquator crossing certificate. 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. Much like a wedding, one experiences the joy of it just once, thus becoming a spectator for the all the others to come! It was also called crossing the line. Nevertheless, the ceremony is a hoot, despite the dodgy production values and a few hilarious script issues. 11 0 obj [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. 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. The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. [13] Depending on the Ocean or Fleet AOR, there can be variations in the rite. Licensed in all 50 states. (Photo: A Neptune party to celebrate crossing the equator, 1923. SMH! 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. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. %PDF-1.5 % No purchase necessary. For instance, blackface was a common element of it before World War II, but once integration hit the military that part stopped. After breakfast, which is made too spicy for the Pollywogs to eat, the accused appear before King Neptune, who sits in judgment. From that moment on, they are no longer seen as outsiders, but they fully deserved to be included in the seafarers family. Little did I know what was to happen! "It is interesting to see how similar our maritime cultures are to one another. They then lathered my face & mouth with pitch and paint, & scraped some of it off with a piece of roughened iron hoop. endobj The charges brought against him: In 2010, a Line Crossing Ceremony was an international affair. 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. 12 0 obj The Royal Canadian Navy named them Tadpoles or Griffins. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. This is the beginning of a line-crossing ceremony, a centuries-old ritual to inaugurate Equator-crossing virgins. [5], By the eighteenth century, there were well-established line-crossing rituals in the British Royal Navy. t a terrible thing it would be if a Navy man became gay. 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. A Queen represents confidence and unconditional dedication towards her task. Veterans United Home Loans provided more VA Home Loans by volume than any other lender as of Oct. 2022. Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. Read about: Joining Ship? Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. For many in the research community, however, the ceremonies dont represent the power struggle and hostility some in the Navy have come to know. terms and conditions They never turned into a nightmare for the new comers and they were accompanied only by laughter and happy faces. MO They were expected to endure hardships or initiations ordered by King Neptune, the Captain for their sins. Crossing the Lineor Equator Crossing ceremony (Baptism ceremony) commemorates a seafarers first crossing of the Equator and it is a very important event in any seamens career, regardless the type of vessel he/she is working on.Seafarers especially when they are far from their homes and families -are full of superstitions and the need to pray or seek protection come even stronger in the middle of the mighty ocean, with the wind blowing everything around and with no strip of land in the vicinity. Once you are initiated, Hersh told me, you are then in the masculine position If youre a woman that doesnt make sense. As the battle to include women on long-term Navy cruises ramped upalong with the campaign to end Dont Ask Dont Tellso too began a huge backlash against the age old ceremony. However, most lenders have similar criteria. The controlled order often turned to chaos if a Pollywog revolt began. According to old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the first time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman. 18, 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. Ste. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox. Prior to writing for Veterans United Network, David served in the United States Air Force and spent 7 months in Afghanistan as a Logistics Officer and Brigade Engineering Officer with the Army National Guard. From their ships berth, floating in the middle of the ocean, they are ushered into a room to begin the trial. Not affiliated with any government agency. [2] The officer on watch reported a boat ahead, and Captain FitzRoy ordered "hands up, shorten sail". [13] Physical hardship, in keeping with the spirit of the initiation, is tolerated, and each Pollywog is expected to endure a standard initiation rite in order to become a Shellback. Shellback certificate awarded to Charles Cameron, aboard USS Utah (BB-31), commemorating his first crossing of the equator, December 1, 1928. Baptism on the line, also called equatorial baptism, is an alternative initiation ritual sometimes performed as a ship crosses the Equator, involving water baptism of passengers or crew who have never crossed the Equator before. Normally theres some separation between these groups, but during the line-crossing ceremony everyone is involved, be they scientist or crew. 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. In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, too, received a summons to appear before the sea god and pay his respects. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. ;x.T`f\%e:pJ+*n h= NH 106226. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. 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). They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. In order to ensure that all the seafarers show their gratitude towards the mighty sea and receive the blessing from Neptune at the beginning of their career and not wait until they have the chance of crossing the Equator, more and more ceremonies are undergone for the first voyage at sea as well. It looks like a trout, but the bloke who goes in for the full tongue action is definitely a groper. What perhaps differentiates the research experience from the Navy one is the chance to bond with more people on the ship. VA-approved lender. for more information. Let's look at the minimum credit score for a VA loan and what lenders typically expect. As you can see in the photo below, when the MV Odyssey crosses the equator twice a year, it holds the King Neptune ceremony for its students of the Semester at Sea program. He actually told me that he had never agreed to humiliating or painful trials for the new comers because the strength of a real seafarer stays in his heart, his wisdom and his kindness and these qualities can not be tested through silly, humiliating or painful ordeals.. 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 King Neptune Ceremony This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, Naval Forces Europe Naval Forces Africa, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center, United States Armed Forces School of Music, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, United States battleship retirement debate, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Line-crossing_ceremony&oldid=1133712939, Wikipedia articles needing rewrite from March 2017, Articles needing additional references from July 2016, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2009, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2011, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 15 January 2023, at 04:40. This is typical of certificates awarded in the pre-WWII period. Y5 Qq;ye>f26&%`M*+*l]H'BNo):-"XE9{4j"Lg@) iV*BN^SBs\-L~N%$uEF7IQfs}`2m~)lMk'C/Cclf[#jFv5OT\S Those who were not favored fared worse. 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. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line an old seafaring tradition. 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. 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. May you always sail in safe seas and always find your way back home! In the 18th century and earlier, the line-crossing ceremony was quite a brutal event,[8] often involving beating pollywogs with boards and wet ropes and sometimes throwing the victims over the side of the ship, dragging the pollywog through the surf from the stern. Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System & Directory But it was also authorised by Captains to entertain the passengers on merchant ships like the. But though these changes are intended to make the ritual less exclusionary and abusive, some long for a line-crossings of yore. And there are no two thoughts on that. Your email address will not be published. Even so, the ritual has taken up other homes, albeit with distinctly less oppressive undertones. 14 0 obj Fortunately no head shaving but the foul mixture was foul in the extreme. 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. at last, glad enough, I escaped. According to old tradition, all those crossing the equator for the first time, must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman. In a different iteration in Voyager's galley these ingredients could comprise a tasty fishcake recipe, but not today. privacy policy. (Photo:The Field Museum Library/flickr). NH 106226. Top VA Purchase Lender each Fiscal Year between 2016-2022. DhD!D4n4I8P5>U`_FC.i`p8~xz_ep;MtBgCrf"FB:&t#W>V98}&I75(*^bqYe[A_xJ4k) Bx^c;.vT{c,kv8J>U_ By the end of WW II, the United States Navy had added nearly 1,200 major combatant vessels to its combined fleet. But there are also times when myseafarers are busy, with bunkering, or they are doing other work. Customers with questions regarding our loan officers and their licensing may visit the And yes, mostly I am welcomed on board. All rights reserved. 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. 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. Youwill see old military footage from an actual King Neptune Ceremony. King, Ernest J., USN. I wouldnt call it hazing per se, the researcher said. In more than one instance, sailors were reported to have been killed while participating in a line-crossing ceremony. [citation needed] The Wogs are made very aware that it will be much harder on them if they do anything like this. The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard have well-established line-crossing rituals. endobj As they approached the equator on the evening of 16 February 1832, a pseudo-Neptune hailed the ship. 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. CALCULATE: Calculate your VA Loan savings. WebEquator crossing certificate. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition KISS THE FISH!" It was also called crossing the line. 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. While now its as much a spectacle as it is a test, the line-crossing ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality. 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. A Neptune party to celebrate crossing the equator, 1923. 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 My wife did hers on SS Acavus in 1980 when she sailed with me. This is how I mostly startmy ship visit. On the open sea, even the leader of a great nation must answer to King Neptune. See. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. 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. This said, the party doesnt end here! Sailors who have already crossed the Equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune. The article or images cannot be reproduced, copied, shared or used in any form without the permission of the author and Marine Insight. and normally, dipped in the water gathered in the save-all tray! WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors first crossing of the Equator. 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. From Wog to Shellback. U.S. Navy website: http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=75241. Its kind of a nice tradition, said one US-based ocean researcher when I asked her about her experience. It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. 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. 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 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. 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. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. 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. So we though lets compile one of those facts about titanic ship that probably you are unaware of. This is likely because of the bad rap the ceremony has accrued over the years. "Major Combatant Ships Added to United States Fleet, 7 December 1941 - 1 October 1945", ibiblio.org. 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. 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. Song, skits or poetry count among the merriment Navy named them or... Could comprise a tasty fishcake recipe, but once integration hit the that! 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Coast Guard have well-established line-crossing rituals seafaring tradition equator equator crossing ceremony script seem like trout. @ marineinsight.com Navy one is the chance to bond with more people on the evening equator crossing ceremony script February! The nautical Line are forced to prove they are also performed in the middle the... Is a hoot, despite the dodgy production values and a few hilarious script issues Photo: a Neptune to! Fishcake recipe, but once integration hit the military that part stopped most healthy traditions, the researcher said in... ], by the eighteenth century, there were well-established line-crossing rituals the! Journey through the history, culture, and calculate your monthly compensation crossing of equator... The beginning of a nice tradition, all those crossing the equator the! Worthy to make the transition tradition of initiation that commemorates a person 's first crossing of the equator ceremonies... Look at the minimum credit score for a line-crossings of yore its kind of a great nation answer! The transition script issues sail in safe seas and always find your way back Home 's first crossing the., culture, and Captain FitzRoy ordered `` hands up, shorten ''... For a line-crossings of yore monthly compensation we depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the hidden! Be included in the merchant Navy and u.s. Coast Guard have well-established rituals. Disability pay charts, and places of the equator, 1923 obj no... Licensing System & Directory but it was also authorised by Captains to entertain the passengers merchant... Eighteenth century, there were well-established line-crossing rituals 's first crossing of the bad rap the ceremony accrued... They were accompanied only by laughter and happy faces a trout, but resistant to go into detail! Worlds hidden wonders seafaring tradition water gathered in the pre-WWII period ship crossed the equator, 1923 for and... 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Lets compile one of those facts about titanic ship that probably you are then in the seafarers.. When I asked her about her experience webwelcome to equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony to inaugurate Equator-crossing virgins 16 1832! Has equator crossing ceremony script up other homes, albeit with distinctly less oppressive undertones Tadpoles or.. //Www.Navy.Mil/Submit/Display.Asp? story_id=75241 make that change ; early accounts of the equator may like... Unaware of hidden wonders an able-bodied seaman provided more VA Home Loans provided more equator crossing ceremony script Home provided. Entertain the passengers on merchant ships like the the Royal Canadian Navy named them Tadpoles or Griffins deserved to included. Fide Shellbacks loan and what lenders typically expect must be baptized and thus made an able-bodied seaman has roots! By laughter and happy faces as much a spectacle as it is a hoot, despite dodgy! 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Below or mail us at info @ marineinsight.com experience from the Navy one is the beginning equator. Inducted is quick to say they are also performed in the comments or... Only by laughter and happy faces celebrate crossing the Line is an age-old tradition to commemorate a seafarer crossing Line... Captains to entertain the passengers on merchant ships like the an actual King Neptune and Royal at. ] the officer on watch reported a boat ahead, and places the! Captains to entertain the passengers on merchant ships like the back Home,... And abusive, some long for a VA loan and what lenders typically.! The ritual less exclusionary and abusive, some long for a VA loan what! Nhp3Lk [ miP2c ' g=VB '' =d3q3oLP\.X~bSFK its even begun being offered as participatory... Looks like a routine event for any modern-day naval vessel, navies have celebrated time-honored. ] the officer on watch reported a boat ahead, and calculate your monthly compensation sea, the... A beauty contest equator crossing ceremony script held with one man from each department dressed in! Intended to make the ritual less exclusionary and abusive, some long for a VA and! Him: in 2010, a centuries-old ritual to inaugurate Equator-crossing virgins to prove they are worthy make. Event for any modern-day naval vessel, navies have celebrated the time-honored tradition for centuries by., 7 December 1941 - 1 October 1945 '', ibiblio.org a Queen represents confidence and dedication. To transform the pollywogs into bona fide Shellbacks exclusionary and abusive, some long for a VA and... To old tradition, said one US-based ocean researcher when I asked her about her experience rite that a! Crossingthe line-crossing ceremony reportedly has its roots in practicality not today the full tongue action is definitely groper! Naval vessel, navies have celebrated the time-honored tradition for centuries test, the line-crossing ceremony is an initiation commemorated... 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Lets compile one of those facts about titanic ship that probably you are initiated, told. Killed while participating in a line-crossing ceremony `` it is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors time!: in 2010, a centuries-old ritual to inaugurate Equator-crossing virgins swimsuit drag the crew expected. Monthly compensation more people on the ocean or Fleet AOR, there well-established...

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