The Equator

Today we crossed the equator.   The equator is an imaginary line on the earth’s surface, equidistant from the north pole and south pole.  Its latitude is 0. The length of the earth’s equator is 24,901.5 miles.  It divides the earth into a northern hemisphere and a southern hemisphere.    So today we officially move from the northern hemisphere, where it is autumn, into the southern hemisphere, where it is spring.  According to the ship’s info, sunrise was at 5:59 am, and sunset was at 5:59 pm, exactly 12 hours apart, as I imagine it is every day at the equator.   I believe the days (daylight) should be getting longer in the southern hemisphere since the seasons are opposite, at least until the summer solstice, which I assume is in December down here.

 On the ship’s schedule for today, there was a “Crossing the Equator Ceremony” where a prize would be given to the first eagle eye passenger who spotted the row of equatorial marker buoys in the sea.  I’m embarrassed to admit that my first thought was to make sure we brought our binoculars so we could have an advantage in spotting those buoys.  Geez.  That would be quite the job, putting buoys all across the ocean exactly on the equator!  I’ve either been at sea too long, or I’m having a blonde moment! 

Seafaring tradition maintains that all sailors who cross the equator during a nautical voyage must undergo rites of passage and elaborate rituals initiating them into The Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep. These rituals date back to the Middle Ages, although current ceremonies are most likely derived from Viking traditions (no details were given as to what those rituals entail).  Those who have never crossed the line are derisively referred to as “slimy pollywogs.”  Upon completion of the initiation ceremony, the polliwogs are then known as “trusty shellbacks.”  Sounds like I’m not the only one who’s been at sea too long!