Ice-Out Betting Season
In northern New England, residents place friendly wagers on when a frozen lake will completely thaw. The tradition is most famous on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, where ice-out has been recorded since 1887. The earliest ice-out was March 23, 2012. The latest was May 12, 1888. The AHA! moment: the ice-out is not just a bet. It is the official start of spring in a state where winter can last six months.