Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has celebrated the new sister city status between Boston and Glasgow by adopting a quirky Scottish tradition: placing a traffic cone on a statue. The mayor praised the Tartan Army, the Scottish football fans, for their friendly antics and cleanliness during their visit for the World Cup.
Mayor Wu Signs Letter of Intent
Mayor Wu signed a letter of intent at The Haven, Boston's only dedicated Scottish bar, which served as the unofficial Tartan Army headquarters during the tournament. The signing took place on Thursday, marking the beginning of the formal twinning process between the two cities.
Traffic Cone Tribute to Bill Russell
Speaking to journalists after the signing, Mayor Wu admitted she had placed a traffic cone on a statue of basketball legend Bill Russell outside Boston City Hall. "I think we may see some lingering traditions from their visit, and I have to admit I also put a cone on Bill Russell's head outside today," she said. Bill Russell played center for the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969, winning 11 NBA championships in 12 seasons.
Wu described the cone as a "sense of playful, joyful surprise" and noted the need for additional cones to keep them in place. The tradition mirrors the Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow, which has sported a traffic cone since the late 1980s despite repeated removal attempts.
Tartan Army Praised for Positive Energy
Mayor Wu also commended the Tartan Army for bringing positive energy to Boston and for their cleanliness. "No Scotland, no party has been absolutely stuck in my head all the time," she said, referencing the popular chant. She added that fans cleaned up after themselves, even when trash cans overflowed, calling it "a mayor's dream."
Formal Agreement in April
A formal agreement between Boston and Glasgow will follow next April during Tartan Week. The sister city status aims to strengthen cultural and economic ties between the two cities.
Robert Burns Statue Also Coned
In addition to Bill Russell's statue, a statue of Scotland's national poet Robert Burns has also been given the cone treatment. A viral TikTok video shows a Scotland fan climbing onto the statue, kissing it, and placing a cone on its head while apologizing to "Rabbie Burns." The clip, posted by user @rsullivan1991, has garnered over 661,000 views and 95,000 likes within hours.
