We've done it again....

We've crossed the line....again. Crossing the equator is somewhat of a party day on the ship. The best known line-crossing ceremony is the "Order of the Shellback" that commemorates a sailor's first crossing of the equator. Originally the tradition was created by seasoned sailors as a test of new shipmates to ensure they were capable of handling long, arduous times at sea. 

 

Neptune, his "wife" and entourage

Folks who have already crossed the equator are called shellbacks or Sons of Neptune. Folks who have never crossed the equator before are considered polywogs (or slimy polywogs) or just wogs. Ronnie and I became shellbacks back in 2023 with our first crossing. The other part of the requirement for turning polywog to shellback is kissing a fish. So every time we cross the equator, there is a kiss-fishing ceremony on the deck. The requirement nowadays for polywogs to become shellbacks is to have ice water poured over one's head followed by kissing a fish. The ceremony used to be much worse in earlier days (think really rough 'hazing' or boot camp) but thankfully those have been prohibited in recent years. 

 

The above certificate is cherished as proof of initiation so it does not need to be endured again. I'm sure I've been called names before, but I admit that I prefer shellback to polywog! And for sure I'm done with kissing fish!