Brussels: Dressing up Manneken Pis in Montenegrin national costume

Brussels, Belgium (12 July 2013) – On the occasion of 13th July - Montenegro’s Statehood Day, the Montenegrin Embassy in Brussels, along with its missions to the EU and NATO, organised the ceremony of dressing up Manneken Pis in Montenegrin national costume. Dressing up of the little boy statue - the symbol of Brussels - in a variety of costumes is a tradition and one of the city’s tourist attractions.

In his brief address, Ambassador Vesko Garčević, Head of Montenegro’s Mission to NATO, reminded attendees of one of the most important dates in the recent history of Montenegro and expressed satisfaction that the country, by this symbolic gesture, joined a great family of friends of Brussels.

The event was attended by representatives of diplomatic corps, the city of Brussels, the association "Friends of Manneken Pis", Montenegro’s citizens living in Belgium, as well as many locals and tourists. The attendees were served by Montenegrin wine and fritters with honey and cheese.

Dressing up Manneken Pis in the Montenegrin national costume was, for the first time, organised last year, in cooperation with the Tourist Organisation of Montenegro.

The 400-year old statue was built in honour of a boy who, according to a medieval legend, saved Brussels by peeing on a wick and extinguishing the fire, thus preventing invaders to blow up the city walls. The statue is one of major tourist attractions of Brussels.