The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

EQUATOR CROSSING FESTIVAL OR RITE

WITH A SHORT PORT CALL IN SUBIC BAY WE PROCEEDED ON A SOUTHERLY
COURSE TO SULU AND CELEBES SEAS AND INTO THE STRAITS OF MAKASSAR,
NEARING THE EQUATOR. AT THIS POINT THE SHIP'S CREW TOOK A DAY OFF
FOR AN OLD TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY TO CELEBRATE THE CROSSING. ALL FIRST
TIMERS TO CROSS 0' LATITUDE ARE GIVEN THE ROYAL TREATMENT, BUT YOU
CAN LOOK BACK AT IT AND HAVE A FEW LAUGHS.

Submitter comment: MY BROTHER IS A USMC PILOT ON THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER MIDWAY. I WISH I
KNEW WHAT THE ROYAL TREATMENT IS BUT THIS INITIATION RITE WAS LEFT T
THE IMAGINATION OF THE READER.

Where learned: INDIAN OCEAN

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