Equator Baptism
The baptism of the equator (also: Baptism of the line or Neptune baptism ) is a ritual customary worldwide for seafarers when a member of the crew or a passenger crosses the equator for the first time at sea .
The polar baptism when crossing the Arctic Circle for the first time is equivalent .
history
The equatorial baptism is an initiation rite , but not a baptism in the religious sense. The custom has its origins in the time of the expeditions of the Portuguese, who wanted to confirm their courage and their faith with a baptism when crossing the dreaded equator. Before the Portuguese voyages, the prevailing opinion was that the equatorial region was too hot to inhabit or cross, and that an expedition to the southern hemisphere would inevitably be fatal.
The person to be baptized is “cleaned” by (a disguised) Neptune , is given a sea or weather-related joke name and is awarded a certificate . During the cleaning process, the person to be baptized is "soaped" with fish oil, shaving foam and other "smelly" substances. Alcohol - previously oil or other fuels - is usually administered. Then the person to be baptized is bathed and cleaned.
This type of rite has also been preserved in children's holiday camps as the Neptune festival .
distribution
In the commercial shipping the Äquatortaufe is now rarely found. The ritual, which used to be brutal and humiliating, is now mostly used for entertainment, especially on cruise ships.
On German research vessels, equator baptisms and polar baptisms are carried out when time permits.
At the German Navy , the equatorial baptism has been officially abolished by instructions from the Navy inspector since 2011 . Previously, she was permitted in compliance with the strict rules of the commander of the fleet , under the principle of voluntariness, with respect for human dignity and under the supervision of the ship's command and the ship's doctor . In 2011 there was a report on practices of the equator baptism on the sailing training ship Gorch Fock , after which leftover food was used.
When Hurtigruten ships cross the Arctic Circle, a small archipelago on which the model of a globe stands between the ports of Nesna and Ørnes leads to the voluntary polar baptism of tourists, which is documented by a certificate.
literature
- Simon J. Bronner: Crossing the Line: Violence, Play, and Drama in Naval Equator Traditions . Amsterdam University Press, Amsterdam 2006, ISBN 978-90-5356-914-6 .
- Peter Gerds: Baptized with water from the line and sparkling wine . Hinstorff Verlag, Rostock 1983.
Web links
- Detlev Crusius: "Lick Neptune's feet once" , in: one day , November 27, 2008.
- Hans Peter Jürgens: "Madness after the calm" , in: one day , June 5, 2009.
- Michael Olejnik: The story (m) of an equator baptism Article on Seefahrt24.de
- Equator baptism experiences as baptized, baptized as well as guest of honor with photo galleries
Individual evidence
- ↑ SHZ.de - Interview with Axel Schimpf - Marine Inspector: “We do not tolerate rituals” from August 3, 2013 - Question: “Are rituals still allowed on board?” Answer: “Rituals have never been allowed. We won't tolerate them in our navy either. Certain customs - that's what I call them - such as equator baptisms or polar circle baptisms came under criticism with the Gorch Fock at the time, although they were very strictly regulated. We got rid of them. "
- ↑ https://www.uibk.ac.at/geschichte-ethnologie/mitarbeiterinnen/univ-prof/heimerdinger-timo/heimerdinger_2015_ekel-und-spiele.pdf Timo Heimerdinger: Disgust and games. Or: Equator baptisms , jungle tests and the longing for reality , in bricolage 8 , page 168, accessed on January 7, 2019
- ↑ Page no longer available , search in web archives: More than an imaginary line