The Marriage of the Sea ceremony (Italian: Sposalizio del Mare) was a major maritime event in the Republic of Venice commemorated on Ascension Day. It symbolized the maritime dominion of Venice and was manifested by the throwing of a golden ring into the Adriatic Sea. This ritual gesture was performed by the doge of Venice until the fall of the republic in 1797.
Since 1965, the ceremony has been reenacted annually by the mayor of Venice reprising the role as doge.