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Veronica
Dec 5, 2023
Venice - Historical curiosities
On December 19,1497, the Most Serene Venetian Senate decreed to admit a certain number of nobles to the Great Council of Venice even if they did not reach the prescribed 25th year of age.
From that year on December 4, St. Barbara's Day, all Venetian nobles between the ages of 20 and 25 gathered at the ducal palace to participate in the drawing of the "golden bala."
One by one the young men would draw a ball from an urn containing 30 golden and the other white balls, and the 30 lucky ones who drew the golden ball were elected "de maiori consilio."
It is said that from such a draw originated the saying, "Cavar baIa d'oro, " still used in the meaning of being lucky.
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