Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
What does it mean to get a key to the city?
Jaylen Brown recently received a key to the 5th Suffolk District. Here’s what the ceremonial honor means — and how the tradition dates back to medieval Europe.
Add Boston.com on Google
(opens in a new tab)
Add Boston.com as your preferred source on Google to see more of our stories.
During Jaylen Brown’s farewell party, “741 Frequency Fest,” on Aug. 30, State Rep. Chris Worrell presented Brown with a key to the 5th Suffolk District on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
After the ceremonial moment, the posed photo, and the applause, you might wonder: What does the key actually mean?
The tradition dates back to medieval times, when cities were often surrounded by walls and had gates that were locked at night. Someone with a key to the city was a trusted resident who was granted the freedom to come and go at any time of day, according to the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology & the Ancient World at Brown University.
Advertisement:
Today, a key to the city is an entirely symbolic. It’s a non-functional key presented to honor someone’s contribution to the city, the institute’s website said.
But there was a twist during Brown’s farewell: He wasn’t given a key to the city of Boston. He was given a key to the 5th Suffolk District, which Worrell represents.
“You’ve done so much for this community,” Worrell said while presenting the key. “We’re giving [the key] to Jaylen Brown for his incredible work in the Black and brown community … and for forever strengthening our community.”
Worrell’s office described the honor as an “exclusive” recognition for leaders who have made significant impact on equity and “enacted profound, real-world change” across Massachusetts, a representative from Worrell’s office said in a statement.
Advertisement:
Brown was the first person to receive a key to the 5th Suffolk District, according to Worrell’s office, and plans to give out keys a few times per year.
So while Brown’s key won’t get him through any locked gates, it does carry some history — particularly in Boston where other Celtics legends and notable figures have received the honor.
In 1956, Celtics player Bill Russel received a key to Boston ahead of his first game on the team.
A few decades earlier, Boston Mayor James Michael Curley presented keys to Chinese General Consul Ziangling Chang and an ambassador to Belgium in 1925.
And in 1924, U.S. Army Lt. Lowell Smith received a key to Boston after being one of eight crew members who attempted to circumnavigate the globe in April of that year.
So, while Brown won’t be able unlock any gates in Boston, the message is arguably more valuable: Boston considers him one of its own.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com