\"The equator crossing ritual known as the \"Order of Neptune\" has been performed by sailors for over one hundred years. Basically, this ritual consists of the initiation of the landlubbers or pollywogs (those who have never crossed the equator) by the seafarers or shellbacks (those who have previously crossed the line). This includes an ordeal in which the landlubbers are subjected to a ritual death and rebirth in order to gain their new status of seafarer or shellback.\" [1]

[1]Polliwogs and Shellbacks: An Analysis of the Equator Crossing Ritual, by Keith P. Richardson © 1977


Those crossing the equator are known as Shellbacks.


Those crossing the line at the 180th meridian are known as Golden Shellbacks.


Those crossing the equator at the Greenwich Meridian are known as Emerald Shellbacks.






During the \"crossing the line\" ceremony, pollywogs are made to crawl on their hands and knees, dressed with their underwear inside out and backwards, and subjected to hits during the day from pieces of cut fire hose, not to mention having food (everything dyed green) thrown at them. If you were the lucky one, you might have been someone\'s wog-dog and would have been led around on a leash, or even be tarred and feathered. All wogs would have had to make it though an \"obstacle course\" (tunnel of garbage, stockades) before being dunked in a tank of water and being asked the question, \"Are you a Wog or Shellback?\". Answering \"Wog\" would have sent you back to the beginning. Of course you had to make it past the cast of characters (The Royal Barber, Royal Dentist, King Neptune\'s Baby), before receiving the blessing of King Neptune and becoming a \"Real\" Shellback.