Over 100 dogs gather in Assenede for traditional saint hubert celebration

Pastoor Etienne Miji blessed more than 100 dogs and their owners at the Markt in Assenede, Belgium, during a traditional Sint-Hubertus celebration.

The local government in Assenede organized the event to revive a long-standing tradition of dog blessings. Pastoor Miji welcomed the crowd and spoke about Saint Hubert, who is known as the patron saint of hunting dogs and horses.

During the ceremony, the priest also blessed Sint-Hubertusbrood, a traditional bread that folk belief says protects against rabies and other illnesses. Mayor Trees Van Eykeren attended the event with her own dog and stated that the initiative aims to bring people together. Participants from nearby areas like Wachtebeke traveled to the town for the gathering. After the blessing, people took photos with their pets or joined a 2.5 kilometer walk through the town center.