| King Neptune and his party stride down the flight deck after arriving on board USS Wasp (CV-7) for Equator crossing ceremonies. On July 10, 1942, USS Wasp held a Neptune Party as the ship crossed the equator. Ice-filled coffins, marked with the skull and crossbones, were built for pollywogs to crawl into. Pollywogs were placed in stocks and their heads shaved by the “Royal Barber.” The “Royal Dentist” administered “truth serum” of foul tasting liquids. Pollywogs “ran the gauntlet” as shellbacks beat them with clubs as they crawled through a greased bag. Sailors dressed as pirates, with skull and crossbones and anchors on their clothes. Many were stripped to the “skivvies” – underwear. Dating back to the 18th century, Neptune Parties, also known as “Neptune Ceremonies” or “Line-Crossing Ceremonies,” have been a long-held tradition aboard Naval vessels. As an opportunity for celebration and recreation, they stand out against the more mundane functions in the daily life of a Navy sailor. The occasions provided the opportunity for enlisted men to let loose, have fun, and engage in shared traditions. Dressed in fantastical costumes, the sailors would act out elaborate ceremonies, and bond as a crew. The Line-Crossing Ceremony is the main event in a Neptune Party. It is an initiation rite practiced in various navies that commemorates a sailor’s 1st crossing of the Equator. The tradition may have originated with ceremonies when passing headlands, and become a “folly” sanctioned as a boost to morale, or have been created as a test for seasoned sailors to ensure their new shipmates were capable of handling long rough times at sea. Sailors who have already crossed the Equator are nicknamed “Shellbacks,” “Trusty Shellbacks,” “Honorable Shellbacks,” or “Sons of Neptune.” Those who have not crossed are nicknamed “Pollywogs,” or “Slimy Pollywogs.” The crossing calls for much ceremony, with crew often putting on elaborate shows to mark the occasion – holding court, trying pollywogs, and practicing arcane rituals. For the Pollywogs, initiation must be endured to be graduated to a Shellback. Varying in intensity through the ages, the initiation aspect of the Line-Crossing Ceremony has remained a core fixture. Severe and dangerous hazing practices were often implemented in the early history of this tradition, some even resulting in death. As standards regarding safety were implemented, Pollywog faced trials filled with more mirth than strife. While a 19th century Pollywog might have faced beatings with ropes and boards, being thrown overboard, or even being dragged behind the ship, as the 20th century progressed, a Pollywog’s initiation rituals might be consumption of cocktails made with hot sauce and shaving cream, crawling on greased decks, appointments with the Royal Dentist, or even kissing the belly of the Royal Baby. The Royal Baby, clad in a diaper and bonnet with a cigarette dangling out of his mouth, would hold the face of a pollywog as he kisses his greased stomach, which might also be covered in shaving cream. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1903.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.69 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 5740 x 4521 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | July 1, 1942 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | |
| Country | Pacific Ocean |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | 80-G-K-811 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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