Ceremonial ship launching
Ceremonial ship launching involves the performance of ceremonies associated with the process of transferring a vessel to the water. It is a nautical tradition in many cultures, dating back millennia, to accompany the physical process with ceremonies which have been observed as public celebration and a solemn blessing, usually but not always, in association with the launch itself.
1908 launch of the Brazilian battleship Minas Geraes
Stern-first launch of the battleship USS Arizona (BB-39) in 1915 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
Sideways launch of littoral combat ship USS St. Louis (LCS-19) in 2018
Launch of the French ship Friedland on 2 May 1810, sliding stern first
Champagne is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, which demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, specific grape-pressing methods and secondary fermentation of the wine in the bottle to cause carbonation.
A glass of Champagne exhibiting the characteristic bubbles associated with the wine
Vineyards in the Champagne region of France
1915 English magazine illustration of a lady riding a Champagne cork (Lordprice Collection)
Le Remueur: 1889 engraving of the man engaged in the daily task of turning each bottle a fraction