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The regular distribution of wine to the crew before dinner and supper was delivered to us from the days of the beginning of the navy of Emperor Peter the Great, and whose form derived from the ceremony exactly copied from the English. The difference only being in that with us the wine [vodka] is contained in an endova – a special large copper vessel, tinned on the interior, of a design and form of ancient Russian style. The English wine is contained in a wooden cask with a base larger and wider than the top section, and encircling the cask are strong brass bands. On the cask's top is written "Grog" and a little below it, "The King" and a little lower "God Bless Him"…
The order of the distribution of wine and the conduct of the ceremony in detail is the same with us as with the English. With us the ceremony proceeds in the following fashion:
15 minutes before dinner the watch gives the order "Deliver the Wine" At this command the guard's officer receives from the senior officer the key to the spirit locker, and in the presence of the officer of the watch, steward , and steward's mate opens the spirit locker. The steward fills the endova from the wine barrel. The spirits locker is closed, and the procession proceeds to the quarter deck, where waits the following crew. The command "Wine on deck" is given 5 minutes before dinner. The wine is placed on the main deck on a stool covered with a clean sail cloth covering. Over the open top part of the endova is placed an oak plank, and on this is placed the charka. The form of the charka is also in the old Russian style. At the command "to wine and dine" all those who have boatswain's pipes pipe the first preliminary signal. At this signal all petty officers and boatswains gather around the endova which is at the centre, and upon the command of the senior boatswain three short notes are sounded on the boatswain's pipes at the same time, beautifully and melodiously. After this in order of seniority beginning with the Boatswain, each with a respectful and solemn continence approaches the endova ladles the wine and holds his left hand beneath the charka so that not a single drop falls upon the deck, with a feeling of sheer happiness as he slowly drinks. An interesting aspect of this process is that each participant removes his cap and drinks from the charka with an uncovered head. He does this in respect to the quarter-deck and flag. The steward notes in his book the issue of each charka of wine. "
Senior Lieutenant M.U.Gordenev Naval Traditions and Ceremonies of the Russian Imperial Naval |
