The line-crossing ceremony’s history isn’t exactly family-friendly 😬 Some versions are “initiations” while others are closer to a baptism with water. Whatever version, there would be some person dressed up representing Neptune. You were considered an inexperienced sailor (pollywog) until you crossed the equator and became a shellback, and this tradition dates back to at least Captain Cook in the 1700s. “As you cross the imaginary line of the equator, an animated Neptune will come up out of the

The equator crossing ceremony (line-crossing ceremony) A long-standing tradition initiation marking a seaman's first crossing of the equator. It becomes an unforgettable memory for every seafarer, symbolizing their deeper connection to the profession filled with excitement and camaraderie, as experienced seamen recall their own past crossings and take pride in passing down the traditions of sailing to newcomers. #SEAMAN #equatorcrossing @B. J. Macalisang | Seaman OnLine

The line-crossing ceremony, also known as Crossing the Line, is an initiation rite in some English-speaking countries that commemorates a person's first crossing of the equator. #everyonefollowers | Manginsay L Allan

Equator crossing or the line crossing ceremony is a centuries-old ritual to inaugurate seafarers who have never crossed the Equator, the imaginary line on the Earth's surface. Began with the Navy over 400 years ago, the tradition is aimed to let Equator-crossing virgins to prove they are worthy to make the transition. | Sea and Coast