See photos of the US Navy’s rare blue nose tradition, which may also be its strangest

• The Royal Order of the Blue Nose is a naval tradition given to sailors who cross the Arctic Circle.
• The tradition involves a series of tests and obstacles to gain a visit from the King of the North.
• The Blue Nose Ceremony is one of the rarest of naval traditions.

The Royal Order of the Blue Nose is one of the most exclusive clubs among members of the US Navy.

The Order of the Blue Nose is a riff on the line-crossing ceremony many sailors experience when they cross the equatorial line.

What makes joining the Order of the Blue Nose harder is that sailors must be aboard a ship crossing the Arctic Circle at latitude 66°33′ N — symbolizing that they entered the “realm” of Boreas Rex, King of the North.

Sailors who partake in the rare naval tradition must undergo a number of tasks in the frigid temperatures of the Arctic in order to earn the graces of the King and earn their blue nose.