Hi all!
I'm in the process of creating a pool of trivia questions for our unit (primarily civilian) to educate them on some of the military traditions. I have a few off the top of my head (Christmas dinner with the youngest rank wearing the highest rank tunic, skylarks, ringing of the bell in the mess, using the wrong rank for someone after promotion, etc.)
There is no such thing as a Christmas Dinner anymore. Don't even say those words!!!
It is a Junior Ranks Appreciation Dinner. Can't mention holiday. Christmas. anything at all close to the actual tradition of the former Men's, then Soldiers, Christmas Dinner.
Would appreciate any other military traditions/customs that are still used today to further educate our unit. I know there was something about sailing over the equator, naval beards, something about flying up North, and there's many more so would appreciate any input!
Flying up north...done that, not aware of any tradition.
RCAF;
Morning Prayers - this is a morning brief that happens at flying sqn's. It used to be a daily thing to kick the day off...has transitioned to weekly or every few days, depending on where you are.
Sticky Floor - Sqn and Wing informal Christmas gathering, all ranks will partake. Usually involves food and beverages, maybe some games. Wing Comd & WCWO group will usually make their rounds to each unit/Sqn and some Sqn members will visit other Sqns. Good fun. It usually happens the same week as the
At Home.
The At Home is a tradition that dates back some time and is held between the Officers Mess, and the WOs and Sgts Mess. Each year, one Mess will "host" the At Home. Hosting Mess will form a receiving line and greet the "hosted" Mess members as the come thru, wishing all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I think it's common for dress to be No 3 (DEU with ribbons). There is socializing, food and beverages.
I'd say its common for the Jnr Ranks Dinner to be the 2nd last week of work before Christmas & New Years Leave, with the At Home happening early to mid week the last week before Leave, and Sticky Floor commonly being the 2nd last day of work before Leave.
Bird Bath - in my fleet (Long Range Patrol), we have a bird bath; a big automated rinse rack to spray the plane down after a flight low over water (salt, etc). When someone is releasing or posted out of the fleet and not expected to ever return, they get strapped into a chair, that is strapped onto a trailer, that gets attached to a mule and driven into the bird bath and around in circles until the water runs out.
It's a decent amount of water...
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By Joanna Calder As do all military organizations, the Royal Canadian Air Force treasures and maintains a number of special traditions associated with the holiday period. From Christmas dinners to “sticky floors” to New Year’s levees, many of these traditions are shared with the Royal Canadian Nav
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