April 25th is the feast of St. Marcus, the city's patron saint. In ancient times on this day a famous procession took place in the Piazza; religious and civil authorities as well as a deputy of artists took part in it. Also nowadays St. Marcus Day is celebrated with a procession in the Basilica. There is a hugely widespread tradition among Venetian men on this day: the gift of a bocolo, that is a red rosebud to the women they love best.