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Crossing the Equator


We crossed the equator at approximately 6:30am this morning and late this afternoon there was a 'Commemoration of Crossing the Equator' event. 

According to tradition, any ship crossing the equator must pay their respects to King Neptune to gain his acceptance. As part of the ceremony, King Neptune comes aboard the ship to exercise his authority over his domain. Nobody knows how or when this tradition started but it dates back over 400 years in western seafaring.

The ceremony also marks the rite of passage from slimy Pollywog (a person who hasn’t crossed the equator) to a Shellback (a person who has crossed the equator).

Here are a few pictures of the ceremony. In this case Pollywogs had to kiss the fish!

King Neptune and his wife


Kissing of the fish!

Lots of people came out to watch the ceremony!   
 One more sea day and then we'll be in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
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