This year marked the 10 year anniversary of our ceremony “Welcoming Czech Newborns” (Vítání občánků in Czech). The tradition came to life in 2008 when we felt the desire to acknowledge and celebrate the increasing number of children born in Belgium to Czech citizens. The children can gain Czech citizenship after they are registered at the Special Registry of Brno, Czech Republic. The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Brussels prepares this event in close cooperation with Brno and its legal institutes. Every year we have the pleasure to welcome the Brno representatives for this event in Brussels.

Over the past few years, the ceremony was taking place in a puppet theatre in Brussels, Théâtre Royal du Peruchet. This year’s edition was remarkable for two reasons. Not only it was 10 years since our first welcoming ceremony, but the puppet theatre also celebrated its 90^th anniversary.

On Friday, 7^th of June, we officially welcomed 28 children, accompanied by their parents, siblings and grandparents. Children and their parents had an opportunity to watch a short puppet show from the Safari lands. After the vivid performance, children were officially welcomed by our ambassador Pavel Klucký and the mayor of Brno Markéta Vaňková. All newborns received a stuffed animal in the shape of a dragon, symbol of Brno, replica of a penny from times of Wenceslas II., and a welcoming diploma on a handmade paper signed by the ambassador. The pleasant afternoon was wrapped up with drinks and snacks in the beautiful garden of the puppet theatre, and even after a quick rain shower the happy and festive mood prevailed.