La Sensa, Marriage to the Sea

Known as one of Venice's oldest festivals, this annual ceremony reaffirms the 'marriage' of Venice and the Adriatic sea. The mayor arrives at the Lido by boat and drops a gold ring into the sea as a symbol of Venice's eternal fidelity to Serenissima, 'Queen of the Seas'. He then proceeds to the San Nicolo church to attend a service. Anybody who dives into the sea and retrieves the ring may keep it, and be exempt from all state taxes for a year.