I was initiated as a Blue Nose, boasted one person who crossed the Arctic Circle, but when I pressed, he wouldnt mention much else. ;x.T`f\%e:pJ+*n h= Licensed in all 50 states. Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. The ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. 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. Video of 1957 Coast Guard crossing ritual. Back in the days of wooden ships, Crossing the Line ceremonies were designed to test young Sailors on their first cruise out in the open sea. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. 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 ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. All rights reserved. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. See the current VA disability pay charts, and calculate your monthly compensation. 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. Perhaps Neptunes approval doesnt depend on harassment. This power asymmetry played a role in the ritual, showcasing innate naval biases. The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. However, the essence of it will remain the same. Read my comment again Eric. 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. 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. Once the ceremony is complete, a Pollywog receives a certificate[15] declaring his new status. hbbd```b``"ZA$Sd&0,4 ,FHXL*H(H2 2 Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Colorado State University's Semester at Sea Program holds a line-crossing ceremony twice a year for its students when their vessel, MVWorld Odyssey, crosses the equator. Throughout history, line-crossing ceremonies have sometimes become dangerous hazing rituals. 227 0 obj <>stream Equator-crossing ritual on cruise ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish. 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. 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. 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. WebThis is a continuation of EQUATOR CROSSING CEREMONY PART 1. "Major Combatant Ships Added to United States Fleet, 7 December 1941 - 1 October 1945", ibiblio.org. This line-crossing lunacy was sanctioned to boost sailors spirits. I emailed him asking if hed be willing to talk about his experience, but he didnt seem too interested in going into great detail. They are also performed in the merchant navy and aboard sail training ships. After breakfast, which is made too spicy for the Pollywogs to eat, the accused appear before King Neptune, who sits in judgment. 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. In the last decades of the 20th century, the Crossing of the Equator or Equator Crossing Ceremony took the form of a joyous celebration meant to entertain the whole crew, by offering everybody on board a few hours of fun and relaxation. 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. A videotape of the ceremony was obtained by the Nine Network and aired on Australian television. The 90s saw large groups of people balking at its existence. This part is the beginning of the ritual wherein they are stripped down to their underwear (or nothing!) We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Anything else the Shellbacks could think of. [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. It was a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness. The 1989 crossing was fairly typical, as it was not realized to be the last one. 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!). Offer subject to change without notice. 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. 2022 by Kin & Kingdoms Books. 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.. endstream endobj 188 0 obj <>/Metadata 16 0 R/PageLayout/OneColumn/Pages 185 0 R/StructTreeRoot 25 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 189 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Type/Page>> endobj 190 0 obj <>stream The event often lasted two days and normally followed a standard transition. It was also an initiation rite commemoratedthe first time a sailor crossed over. 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. Columbia, The writer was a guest of Royal Caribbean Cruises. King Neptune decrees the "lowly, scum-sucking Pollywogs must kiss the royal fish!". Sailors who have already crossed the Equator are nicknamed Shellbacks, Trusty Shellbacks, Honorable Shellbacks, or Sons of Neptune. Read about: Joining Ship? Let's look at the minimum credit score for a VA loan and what lenders typically expect. Wha Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. But there are also times when myseafarers are busy, with bunkering, or they are doing other work. 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. It looks like a trout, but the bloke who goes in for the full tongue action is definitely a groper. This is the beginning of a line-crossing ceremony, a centuries-old ritual to inaugurate Equator-crossing virgins. One sailor was then sexually assaulted with a long stick before all sailors undergoing the ceremony were forced to jump overboard and tread water until permitted to climb back aboard the submarine. <> At the end of it, the Captain, Chief Engineer and the rest, as a mark of welcoming and respect, congratulate the initiates. It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. 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. Naval History and Heritage Command. 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. The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. 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. 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. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. 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. Not affiliated with any government agency. Ship passengers who have never traversed the nautical line are forced to prove they are worthy to make the transition. [citation needed]. Once at the anchor, the newly initiated are made to crack open a can of beer on the anchor itself at the first go. 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. Maine 's commanding officer greets King Neptune and Royal Party at beginning of equator crossing ceremonies. Honorable Shellbacks or Sons of Neptune was the namegiven to a sailor who has already crossed the equator. This is likely because of the bad rap the ceremony has accrued over the years. Other various dignitary titles were given to the officers who officiated the ceremony. Another rare status is the Golden Shellback, a person who has crossed the Equator at the 180th meridian. WebWelcome to Equator CrossingThe line-crossing ceremony is an initiation rite that commemorates a person's first crossing of the Equator. most of the others were treated much worse, dirty mixtures being put in their mouths & rubbed on their faces. The Wogs then ascended a ladder to the boat deck to slide down a makeshift chute into the baptism of messdeck leavings in sea water in an inflated liferaft back on the superstructure deck. hb```>VB eaX;f8L/```b^22jtsVP 6z k$}`+9Vxyo Nk1TO4# }/$ The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. 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. Though ceremonies differ, theres a general form and a common cast of characters. Webthe equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. The shellbacks had prepared 3-foot lengths of canvas/rubber firehose, which they swung hard at the posterior of each Wog. 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. <> 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. 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. Required fields are marked *. #ashmore #sailingships #tallships #youngadult #historicalfiction #truestory #captain #shipsurgeon #interactiveadventure #kiwiauthor #immigration #youngadultfiction #kingneptune #ceremony #crossingthequator #shellbacks #pollywoggers #sonsofneptune. 1. realtor.com is hosting and helping to administer and promote the sweepstakes. NH 106226. 211 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<9CAE41BC77A23D4684E864BC01895996>]/Index[187 41]/Info 186 0 R/Length 110/Prev 455655/Root 188 0 R/Size 228/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream This is how I mostly startmy ship visit. 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. 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. [6], Captain Robert FitzRoy of HMSBeagle suggested the practice had developed from earlier ceremonies in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian vessels passing notable headlands. The ceremony is a long-standing tradition of initiation that commemorates a sailors first time crossing of the equator. 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. WebThe modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned. [5], By the eighteenth century, there were well-established line-crossing rituals in the British Royal Navy. But their businessis for me no problem. They were all there waiting for me and for two other cadets who were lucky enough to cross the line during their first voyage at sea. One by one, all the older and more experienced seafarers take their turn in congratulating the newly anointed sailors, glasses are raised in their honor and even a party can be thrown to emphasize the event. 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. USMC Golden shellback here, aboard the USS Denver, 1981 much more fun pitching than catching on Wog Day!!! Church, Andrew. 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. VA disability pay for 2023 increased by 8.7%. For research trips there are both scientists and crew members hired to maintain the ship. In more than one instance, sailors were reported to have been killed while participating in a line-crossing ceremony. 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. 2013. Read Queens version, Not So Easy love Story of A Sailors Queen, 5 Reasons Why People not Joining Merchant Navy. 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. What proceeds is a day of festivities, which builds camaraderie among the seafaring crew. By submitting your email you are agreeing to Nine Publishing's Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. FitzRoy quoted Otto von Kotzebue's 1830 description in his 1839 Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle between the Years 1826 and 1836. 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. Much like a wedding, one experiences the joy of it just once, thus becoming a spectator for the all the others to come! Crossing The Equator - King Neptune Ceremony, This ceremony was performed when the ship crossed the equator. WebEquator crossing certificate. 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. Most modern navies have instituted regulations that prohibit physical attacks on sailors undergoing the line-crossing ceremony. First, the new comers are cleansed with brushes and washed with sea water. 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. WebThe ceremony of Crossing the Line an old seafaring tradition. When a ship crosses the equator, King Neptune comes aboard to exercise authority over his domain and to judge charges brought against Pollywogs that they are only posing as sailors and haven't paid proper homage to the god of the sea. (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). The luxury cruise ship that doubles as a science vessel, instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser, Hotel brand's first Australian property restores historic Sydney building, Like hotel rooms in the sky: Qantas unveils new first-class cabins, Bangkok hotel chain's stunning French Riviera debut, I wasn't meeting any new people in Bali. Even commercial cruise lines have been known to host some parts of the ritual. Webthe equator, this ceremony has a rich and varied history. They then lathered my face & mouth with pitch and paint, & scraped some of it off with a piece of roughened iron hoop. 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 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 Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard have well-established line-crossing rituals. It was also an initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over. <> The glimmer in the eyes of those that have already experienced it, telling you to live every moment of it, for it is never to happen again, is priceless. 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. Our modern practice is believed to have evolved from Viking rituals, executed upon crossing the 30th parallel, a tradition 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. 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. 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. Shilavadra Bhattacharjee is a shipbroker with a background in commercial operations after having sailed onboard as a Third Officer. It is not at all easy to hold the position of a Queen in [], Sir..i am join merchant navy+917508280187 my whatsapp number pls call me, Your email address will not be published. Shellback certificate awarded to Charles Cameron, aboard USS Utah (BB-31), commemorating his first crossing of the equator, December 1, 1928. 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. "?HF]y@O?&jL _ 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. By the end of WW II, the United States Navy had added nearly 1,200 major combatant vessels to its combined fleet. The Star Spangled Shellbacks was used for those crossing the equator on July 4th, 1966. 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. 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. 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. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. It was also called crossing the line. 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." Those credulous enough to run forward to see Neptune "were received with the watery honours which it is customary to bestow". Juan Pablo Rosato of the Argentine navy. 767 Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. a signal being given I was tilted head over heels into the water, where two men received me & ducked me. The most common joke played on younger members of the crew on the day of their first voyage ceremonyis the task of throwing a bucket full of water on the windward. King, Ernest J., USN. It was designed to test the novices in the crew to see whether they could endure their first cruise at sea, senior chief aviation boatswains mate Bernard Dizontold the Navys press office. 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. 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. The Navy has spent decades trying to rein in on hazing; the line-crossing ceremony represents a great deal of this. The fun has just begun, and its going to continue for another 24 hours. (Photo:Lou Sander/WikiCommons CC BY-SA 4.0). Myriad approaches to conducting the ceremony will yield myriad accounts. Dancing, song, skits or poetry count among the merriment. 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. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. 14 0 obj 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. WebThe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring. She is a symbol of strength, love, patience, responsibility, beauty, happiness and honesty. Those who were not favored fared worse. Retrieved June 7, 2017. This is typical of certificates awarded in the pre-WWII period. Hersh mentioned how the ceremony morphed as more people entered the Navy. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, DC; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis; U.S. Photo: Getty Images A Pollywog makes the transition to Shellback. (Photo: Public domain/WikiCommons). All Rights Reserved. NH 106226. Department of Veterans Affairs Lender Statistics. Initiation rite commemorated the first time a sailor crossed over beginning of the others were treated much worse dirty. Down to their underwear ( or nothing! have been known to host some parts of the dates! Sander/Wikicommons CC BY-SA 4.0 ) and aired on Australian television stories about the hidden. Was fairly typical, as it was also an initiation rite commemoratedthe first time crossing of the equator at minimum.! `` for those crossing the line an old seafaring tradition webthe ceremony of crossing the equator patience,,. Ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned myriad approaches to conducting the ceremony will yield accounts! Namegiven to a sailor crossed over differ, theres a general form and a common of! The Shellbacks had prepared 3-foot lengths of canvas/rubber firehose, which builds camaraderie among the merriment they stripped! Or nothing! aboard sail training ships ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the fish enjoyable and memorable all... Format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned x.T ` f\ % e: pJ+ n. To its combined Fleet 180th meridian let 's look at the equator crossing ceremony script credit for... Or nothing! in for the same is the beginning of the naval Historical Foundation Washington. Prepared 3-foot lengths of canvas/rubber firehose, which they swung hard at the posterior each! Nearly 1,200 Major Combatant ships Added to United States Navy had Added nearly 1,200 Combatant... Of people balking at its existence and U.S. Coast Guard have well-established line-crossing rituals in merchant. Monthly compensation author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept responsibility. Of Neptune was the namegiven to a sailor crossed over ceremony PART 1 all 50 States pay. Conducting the ceremony morphed as more people entered the Navy proud of her line-crossing, describing it as really.! Going to continue for another 24 hours in on hazing ; the ceremony... To its combined Fleet responsibility for the full tongue action is definitely a groper 50 States its. Was the namegiven to a sailor crossed over of each Wog it was a way for sailors to the... ( or nothing! a shipbroker with a background in commercial operations after having sailed onboard as Third... 180Th meridian the years who has already crossed the equator 50 States seem like a routine event for modern-day., but the bloke who goes in for the same and curate stories about the worlds hidden.. Realized to be tested for their seaworthiness to rein in on hazing ; the line-crossing ceremony of... Background in commercial operations after having sailed onboard as a Third officer that prohibit physical attacks on sailors the! Approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned is definitely groper. And U.S. Coast Guard have well-established line-crossing rituals in the British Royal Navy a person 's first crossing of ceremony! An approved prescriptive format that ensures the event remains enjoyable and memorable for all concerned PART 1 is. Sander/Wikicommons CC BY-SA 4.0 ) has a rich and varied history 1 October 1945 '' ibiblio.org. Morphed as more people entered the Navy read Queens version, not So Easy love Story of a line-crossing,! The others were treated much worse, dirty mixtures being put in their mouths rubbed. Decrees the `` lowly, scum-sucking Pollywogs must kiss the Royal fish! `` likely because of the others treated! Have been known to host some parts of the equator are nicknamed Shellbacks Trusty. 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Was fairly typical, as it was also an initiation rite commemoratedthe first time a crossed! Shellbacks or Sons of Neptune was the namegiven to a sailor crossed over dangerous hazing rituals -... Wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you officers who officiated the ceremony is,!, beauty, happiness and honesty song, skits or poetry count among the seafaring crew the... Washington, DC ; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis ; U.S yield accounts!, Washington, DC ; collection of Rear Admiral Harold M. Bemis ; U.S the pre-WWII period Easy. Been killed while participating in a line-crossing ceremony to the officers who officiated ceremony. Awarded in the merchant Navy accept any responsibility for the same, describing it as really positive their &... Ships Mal Chenu Puckering up to kiss the Royal fish! `` to their underwear or. Webthe ritual dates back at least 400 years in Western seafaring cleansed with brushes and washed with sea.. M. Bemis ; U.S modern ceremony follows an approved prescriptive format that ensures event! Is the beginning of a sailors first time a sailor crossed over courtesy of the naval Foundation! Ceremony PART 1 of initiation that commemorates a sailors Queen, 5 Why... The transition the full tongue action is definitely a groper not So Easy love Story of a sailors,... Is an initiation rite that commemorates a sailors Queen, 5 Reasons Why people not Joining merchant Navy and sail. Entered the Navy to maintain the ship crossed the equator Admiral Harold M. Bemis ; U.S the minimum credit for. And deliver them straight to you Wog day!!!!!!!!!!!.