<P> York has a long history of freemen dating back to the Anglo - Saxon period, with records dating back to 1272 . Freemen may claim their rights through patronage (as far back as their great - great - grandparent, there are records of women being admitted in York in medieval times, a right forgotten for a time until the late 1970s when the Gild carried out research and rediscovered it) or apprenticeship . Once' sworn in', freemen can join the Gild (Archaic spelling used) of Freemen who continue to take an interest in the affairs of the city . New admissions are made every year (usually October) following an admission ceremony with the Lord Mayor at the Guildhall . </P> <P> In Ireland, borough freedom of the city is generally given to noted foreign and national dignitaries and the list rarely exceeds a few dozen . As in the United Kingdom, the title generally comes with various ancient privileges--for instance, freemen of Dublin are allowed the right to vote in certain elections, bring goods for sale in the city without customs and the right to pasture sheep on common ground such as College Green and St. Stephen's Green . </P> <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 honour . 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>

What does it mean when the mayor gives you the key to the city
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