For as long as ships have sailed the oceans wide, sailors from all over the world have participated in certain rites to commemorate their passage of global milestones.
One of the most popular rituals practiced worldwide is 'Crossing The Line'. When a ship crosses the Equator, it is said to have entered into the realm of King Neptune. The seasoned salty sailors who have already crossed initiate the new sailors otherwise known as 'slimy polliwogs' into "The Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep" where they become Trusty Shellbacks . If the ship crosses the Equator at the international dateline, that sailor becomes a
Golden Shellback.
If the ship crosses the Equator at the Greenwich Meridian, that sailor has become an Emerald Shellback.
The book of Naval Ceremonies, Customs, and Traditions states that the 'Crossing the Line' ceremonies are of such ancient vintage that their derivation is lost; such horseplay took place in the Middle Ages, and even before that when ships crossed the thirteenth parallel or passed through the Straits of Gibraltar. The Vikings are reported to have practiced similar ceremonies upon crossing certain parallels. It is highly probable that the present day ceremony was passed on to the Anglos, Saxons, and Normans from the Vikings.
There are many other time honored customs and traditions still practiced by sailors around the world. When a ship crosses the Antarctic Circle at 66-32 South lattitude, they enter The Royal Domain of the Emperor Penguin, also known as "Blue Nose". When a ship crosses the Arctic Circle at 66-32 North lattitude, they enter The Northern Domain of the Polar Bear, also known as "Blue Nose".
The Realm of the Golden Dragon is entered when a ship crosses the 180th Meridian, or the International Date Line. To become a Mossback, a sailor must traverse in his ship around the southern tip of South America, also known as Cape Horn. The Order of Magellan is an honor bestowed upon those who circumnavigate the globe. The Order of the Ditch is for ships that have transited the Panama Canal. Passing through the Straits of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean sea earns The Order of the Rock. The Order of Suez, orSafari to Suez is awarded to those who have traversed the Suez Canal.
To become a Son of Sinbad, or The Order of the Gold Turban, you must have served in the Persian Gulf. This was later to become The Persian Excursion, or The Mystic Society of One Thousand and One Nights.
If there are any that I forgot to mention, or if you notice inaccuracies in the page, please send additions and corrections, citing the source of information. Email me!
