At some point, you have to ask -- why bother?

Some traditions just don't translate into the modern era.

In Minneapolis St. Paul, they have something called the Winter Carnival, where "Vulcans" -- not the Star Trek kind, get that out of your head -- cavort. Sadly, one tradition seems to have been effectively castrated into utter incomprehensibility:

Vulcans represent fire and pave the way for summer. They are one of several groups that carry on festival traditions and wear distinctive outfits. Theirs include capes, helmets and goggles. They used to grab women in crowds and kiss them on the face to smudge them with black grease, until a lawsuit in the 1970s stopped the practice. Now, Vulcans have to ask permission to mark anyone on the cheek with their signature 'V' in grease pen.

That's just sad.