If anyone is more familiar with this, what is the culture around this like? I get the feeling that the nominations would be for scandals that are “bad” but not so “bad” that people are actually angry about it. Do people usually accept the punishment if nominated, has anyone said no?

Some interesting bits:

Before the Tonca comes the Tribunale di Penitenza (Court of Penance) during which members of the “court” name someone as deserving of being dunked in the river and make their case for the nomination. The comedic satire—which features a judge, defense attorney, prosecutor and someone playing the role of the accused—eventually finds some innocent while declaring the serious offenders guilty and condemned to the Tonca as a penalty. Reportedly, Tonca is held on the final Sunday before June 26 when the festivities come to an end. Last year, it happened on June 19 and six people were found guilty.

In today’s time, the ones who are nominated are not blasphemers but they might have done something which was scandalous or controversial. While it is mostly politicians who are nominated, this is not always the case.

Last year, the nominees were the last four presidents of the province for delaying a new hospital and a nurse who was charged with falsifying COVID test results. Not all people are nominated for serious offenses. Two politicians were put up for punishment for their opposition to a concert by popular Italian singer-songwriter Vasco Rossi.

The final verdict comes a few days later and the ones who are deemed the worst are placed inside the cage. The person is ceremoniously dunked in the river three times, just as it was done in the past.