Happy Christmas fellow mariners! How did you get on with Christmas traditions?
I had the good fortune to spend a Christmas at sea whilst serving. In addition to job swaps where during a patrol you might find yourself swapping your watch with someone from another department (everyone could do most roles at least to a basic level).
During the weeks before Christmas, the first tradition to take place in RN ships and establishments was always the stirring of the Christmas pudding. At sea this was the job of the Captain, Supply Officer and the youngest serving rating. The huge pudding mix which as you would expect had a tot or three of rum is stirred and placed into smaller containers for each mess.
Much like most of us at home, food and drink is a huge part of any Christmas and Christmas at sea is no different. Before main course there was always a very special tradition that everyone (perhaps not the skipper though) looked forward to. The youngest member of the ships company would be Captain for the day the skipper would take on their role. This caused much envy and resulted in some strange decisions and pipes being made, but all taken in good humoured spirit.
Christmas day would start with ‘gimpy gifts’ in the mess whereby everybody received a ‘present’ from their oppo (the crew member they swapped watches with). The gift would normally be an insult and would highlight any faults and inadequacies of the recipient! But always taken and given in good humour.
On hearing the pipe ‘standby for Captain’s rounds’ the mess would muster and await the youngest sailor in their newly empowered guise. Lagging behind would be the real skipper, in the role of Bosun’s mate, trying his best to make the bosun’s call pipe the still and carry on! After a drink and best wishes, they would continue to conduct rounds in the rest of the messdecks.
Next up Christmas dinner and another tradition equally looked forward to was where the officers served, waited upon and washed up after the Junior Rates.
Christmas dinner was always a banquet and would consist of all the trimmings including the usual roast turkey/gammon/beef, plenty of vegetables, pigs in blankets etc. followed by that well stirred Christmas pudding, all followed by a carol service and the obligatory SODs opera and auctions.
Follow the link to a website that gave some great insight to a few Christmas traditions
Maritime trust Christmas traditions
Have a great day and enjoy the festivities.