The Salt Line Ceremony is a Colonial military ceremony, typically taking place before the start of a major battle. A line of table salt is placed on the ground between two rows of personnel to be deployed in combat. A passage of scripture is read, and the two rows converge, spreading the salt line with their feet.
Lieutenant Margaret Edmondson conducts this ceremony on Galactica's hangar deck prior to the rescue mission for the humans remaining under Cylon occupation on New Caprica. The ceremony ends with an embrace by Galactica and Pegasus crew members, who know that they might never see each other again (Exodus, Part I).
Notes
- Circles of salt are used in certain pagan rituals to fend of many kinds of spirits. Breaking the line of salt is thus a symbol of tearing down a protective barrier.