Original way to celebrate 25th anniversary of Croatia’s independence.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the international recognition of Croatia, one of the main attractions and symbol of Brussels, Manneken Pis, has been dressed in Slavonian folk costume. The initiative came from Croatian Member of European Parliament Dubravka Šuica.
“I think that Manneken Pis looks very handsome in Croatian folk costumes. Today he is a little bit less ‘Bruxellois’ and a little bit more Croatian, but he is European all the same”, said Marc Guebel, vice president of the Committee of Friends of Manneken Pis.
“Today is an important day for Croatia. Main celebrations are being held in Zagreb, and we, the Croatian diplomatic community and Croats in Brussels, are proud of this little celebration with Manneken Pis being dressed in Croatian national costume”, said Croatian Ambassador to Belgium Mario Nobilo.
The statue of a boy on the top of the fountain has long become a symbol of Brussels, and there is a tradition to dress him for special occasions. The first costume for Manneken Pis was sewn in 1698, and to date there have been more than 800 such costumes, most of which are being kept in a museum at the main square in Brussels.
There are several legends associated with the famous boy. The most well-known is the one which says that a boy saved the city under siege from fire by urinating on a burning wick of a bomb which the enemy intended to use to burn the city to the ground. Grateful citizens allegedly erected the statue in gratitude.
