There's a Bad Smell By The Bay

In Punxsutawney, they have Groundhog Day, a midwinter ritual involving alcohol, men in tuxedos, a rodent, crowds of thousands, including lots of college students, and more alcohol. In Annapolis, on the other hand, they have a vernal equinox ritual involving none of those things, except alcohol. So you'd think that the Annapolis event would be, well, somehow more civilized. The only problem is, you'd be wrong about that.

According to an Associated Press article, the Annapolis celebration of the first day of spring involves alcohol (so far so good), oysters (still good), fire (still promising - I like fire), and , um, old socks. That's right, old socks. That's right - in sailing-crazy Annapolis, boaters celebrate the first day of spring with a ceremonial Burning of the Socks, signifying it will soon be warm enough to wear boat shoes without socks. The wearing of boat shoes without socks is very important to affluent Maryland boaters. The Burning of the Socks is a tradition dating all the way back to the mid-1980s, when an employee at Annapolis Yacht Yard tired of his winter days doing engine maintenance on yachts and power boats. He stripped off his stinky socks, put them in a paint can with some lighter fluid and drank a longneck beer while looking forward to warmer days ahead.

Fast forward to yesterday - throngs estimated at upwards of 130 people attended the ritual, burning socks and pantyhose all the while eating Chesapeake Bay crabs and walking around in leather loafers without socks.

Hmmm. I think that maybe next year I'll head up to Punxsutawney for a taste of civilization.