In the northern Italian city of Trento, an annual tradition leaves local politicians shaking in their boots.

The Tonca is a comical reenacting of an ancient punishment used from the 14th to 17th century in which one person is placed in a cage and dunked in the freezing waters of the Adige, the second-longest river in Italy. 

The tradition is part of the Feste Vigiliane, a weeklong celebration of the town's patron saint that takes place in late June. While many could probably name a few politicians who could use a refreshing dunk, there is a traditional ritual in selecting who deserves this “honor.” Prior to the event, the Tribunale di Penitenza (Court of Penance) is held publicly. 

This spectacle is a comedic satire in which members of the “court” nominate people and state their cases for doing so. There is a judge, defense attorney, prosecutor, and even someone who plays the role of the accused. While those who are nominated aren't blasphemers, which is whom the original punishment was reserved for, they have done something over the course of the year that was scandalous or newsworthy. Very often, politicians are nominated, but that's not always the case.

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