🔗 Share this article

It might not have been at the same level as sparing holiday birds, but the mayor of Miami-Dade had her own ceremonial pardon event this week by formally pardoning the life of a swine named Six Seven.

Daniella Levine Cava carried out the annual tradition at the Cuban-style Latin Cafe 2000 in the core of Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood.

“This pig is innocent. She deserves this act of mercy. Her criminal record is spotless,” stated the mayor in a speech with inescapable allusions to the vast quantity of pardons issued since the beginning of a current administration.

“Unless you count eating half a dozen apples per day,” she went on. “I hope she experiences a lengthy and joyful existence without fear.”

This ceremony, either celebrating or rejecting the local cultural practice of eating roast pork during the holidays, was established to emulate the yearly bird sparing at the White House.

The swine, provided by a local firefighter, was christened after the modern linguistic fad of young people exclaiming “six seven” – deriving from a rap song lyric – often for no discernable reason. The phrase became so widespread that a major dictionary recently declared “six-seven” its top term for the year.

A Future Secured

This particular pig is now destined to live out its days at a farm sanctuary “away from grills and cookware”, according to the ceremony's official statement.

“The annual pig pardon has become a beloved tradition to open the end-of-year celebrations,” said Eric Castellanos, in a notably cheerful message.

“It embodies the spirit of Miami: joyful, multicultural, and based in heritage that unite the community. Annually, we are delighted to mark culture and compassion in a way distinctively Miamian.”

Participants enjoyed a plant-based fare of spinach fritters and strong coffee as they celebrated Six Seven’s big moment.