Equator-crossing info?

[Sojourner]

At 05:43 PM 7/12/97 -0400, Dale L. Larson wrote:

>> Does anyone have any ideas at hand for sources that might tell me a bit
>> more about the history and nature of these rituals?  I'd greatly appreciate
>> any  pointers and I thank you in advance.
>
>Something spiffy to look into along these lines: Norwegian aquavit.  This
>wonderfully powerful booze is a sort of flavored vodka.  As I understand it,
>the stuff is supposed to age in casks on a ship that crosses the equator. 
>The bottles I've had include on the back of the label the name of the ship
>and a map with a line representing the ships voyage on which the aquavit was
>aged. 
>



Aquavit (1890)
[Swedish and Danish akvavit, Norwegian akevitt, from Medieval Latin aqua
vitae, "water of life", also spelled
aquavite, or akvavit, also called snaps in Denmark.]

A Scandinavian flavoured, distilled liquor, ranging in alcohol content from
about 42 to 45 percent by volume, clear
to pale yellow in colour, distilled from a fermented potato or grain mash,
flavored with caraway seeds or cumin
seed, others that may be used are lemon or orange peel, cardamom, aniseed,
and fennel. 

Liquor was imported to Norway from Europe starting in the 1500s. The name
aquavit is not of Nordic origin, but
it has aquired a special place in the Norwegian as well as the other
Scandinavian languages. Today, aquavit is
known as the Norwegian liquor and holds a special place among liquor lovers
all over the world.

Norway is famous for its Linie Aquavit, so called because it is shipped to
Australia and back (across the Equator,
or the "Line") in oak containers to produce mellow flavour. 

In the Scandinavian countries, the aquavit is usually served chilled and
unmixed, often straight out of the freezer, in
small glasses which will be emptied in one go. It is a traditional drink at
the Christmas table along with beer. It is
said (as an excuse?!) to have the great power of making more space for
eating more of the delicious food.

This strong liquor is of course only for sale in the Vinmonopol, the
State's monopoly of wines and liquors.
	"If men thought of God as much as they think 
	 of the world, who would not attain liberation?"

			--Maitri Upanishad 6.24