Brussels Manneken Pis Gets Montenegrin Look

One of Europe's best known statues and a national treasure of Belgium, the Manneken Pis, was dressed on Thursday in Montenegin traditional costume ahead of Montenegro's National Day.

The ceremony of marking the National Day - which is not till July 13th -  with the Manneken Pis dressed as a Montenegrin highlander, was organized by the Montenegrin embassy in Belgium in cooperation with the Society of Friends of the Manneken Pis.

The custom-made outfit comprises a red embroided waistcoat, white coat, dark breeches and white leggings and a draped wrap.

Addressing diplomats, officials of the City of Brussels, members of the Montenegrin diaspora and locals in Brussels, the Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy in Belgium, Tatjana Raspopovic, said Montenegro felt honoured that the symbol of freedom-loving spirit of Brussels was temporarily donning Montenegrin attire.

"We in Montenegro are very proud of our tradition of freedom. The love of liberty has made and maintained Montenegro through turbulent centuries of European history," Raspopovic said.

July 13 marks the day in 1878 when the great powers at the Congress of Berlin recognized Montenegro as an independent state. The popular uprising against the Axis occupation in Montenegro began on the same day in 1941.

The Manneken Pis has been a landmark in Brussels since 1618, or 1619 and is regularly dressed in different costumes in agreement with the Society of Friends of the statue, which is in charge of reviewing proposals and selecting a lucky few.