No Kissing, Please

As part of the frozen frivolities of the winter carnival in St. Paul, respectable citizens traditionally dress up in red devil costumes, smear their faces with coal-black grease paint and ride around town on a fire engine. The revelers, collectively known as "Vulcanus Rex and his Krewe," then swarm into offices and stores, firing blank cartridges from pistols and grabbing every woman in sight for a smudgy kiss.

Not this year--or at least not so "Vulcanically." One unamused woman last year resisted a Krewe member's kiss and, after he persisted, took her grievance to the St. Paul human rights commission. She argued that the exchange of sooty kisses should be limited to consenting adults. So, when the carnival opens later this month, new rules will be in force. Only one Vulcan will be allowed to fire off blanks. No kissing will be permitted--only a messy smudging of the cheeks and only with consent.

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