<P> In some countries, such as the United States, an ornamental key--the "Key to the City"--is presented to esteemed visitors, residents, or others whom the city wishes to honor . This practice is a variation on the Freedom of the City tradition, and has a similar symbolic meaning; evoking medieval walled cities, the gates of which would be guarded during the day and locked at night, the key symbolises the freedom of the recipient to enter and leave the city at will, as a trusted friend of city residents . </P> <P> In some cities in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, the key to the city is given to the so - called "prince carnival (nl)" who leads the carnivals which take place the week prior to Septuagesima . The tradition is that the mayor steps down for this period and power is transferred to the prince carnival, who then returns the key at the end of Shrove Tuesday / Mardi Gras . Today, the handing over of the key is mostly symbolic and marks the start and end of the carnival . </P> <P> In Calgary, Alberta, Canada, instead of a key, esteemed visitors receive a white cowboy hat and usually recite one of two oaths (one formal, the other more silly) to become honorary Calgarians . </P>

What can you do with keys to the city