A Pig's Tale: Hog Named Six Seven Spared by Miami-Dade Mayor.
Although not quite at the identical stature as pardoning festive fowl, but the mayor of Miami-Dade conducted a ceremonial pardon event this week by ritually sparing the life of a pig named Six Seven.
Daniella Levine Cava carried out the annual tradition at the Cuban-themed Latin Cafe 2000 in the center of Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood.
“This pig is innocent. She is worthy of this pardon. She has committed zero crimes,” stated the mayor in a speech with inescapable allusions to the sheer volume of pardons issued from the start of the onset of a second term in office.
“Unless you count eating 6 or 7 apples per day,” the mayor added. “I hope she experiences a long and happy life free from concern.”
The event, simultaneously observing and challenging the region’s Hispanic tradition of consuming swine during the holidays, was created to emulate the annual turkey pardoning at the White House.
The swine, provided by a local firefighter, was named for the popular vernacular phrase of young people exclaiming “6-7” – originating from a hip-hop line – often seemingly at random. The craze became so widespread that a prominent word reference recently made “six-seven” its annual vocabulary selection.
A New Life
The pardoned swine is now set to enjoy its days at a rural sanctuary “distant from barbecues and spits”, according to the event’s official press release.
“The annual pig pardon has become a beloved tradition to open the end-of-year celebrations,” said the event host, in a decidedly positive message.
“It represents the essence of Miami: happy, diverse, and based in heritage that unite the community. Every time, we are delighted to mark culture and compassion in a way unique to Miami.”
Participants enjoyed a vegetarian menu of spinach fritters and strong coffee as they celebrated the pig's pardon.
