-->
On International Day of Peace this Monday, September
21, Brussels turns its famous landmark, Manneken Pis, into Manneken Peace.
Manneken Pis is a tiny 17th-century
bronze fountain statue of a little peeing boy. Locals love him and have many
stories about why this statue was erected.
They celebrate festivals and draw attention to causes dressing the
little boy in one of the 900 costumes his has acquired over the centuries.
To mark International Day of Peace,
CNAPD, a Belgium association of youth and educational groups for peace and
democracy, will dress the Manneken (little man) in a bespoke peace outfit inspired by school children’s
and students’ drawings. More than 200
youngsters submitted drawings of pacifist outfits for the little boy and the
best were integrated into a costume by a young designer.
On September 21 between 9 am and 2pm, members of
the public will be able to admire the Manneken Peace, share a pintje (a pint)
and if they feel inspired, propose their own creation around the theme of peace
– a song, a poem, a drawing, a video etc.
In addition, during the week, 125 Belgian localities will fly a peace flag and call for the abolition of nuclear arms.
In addition, during the week, 125 Belgian localities will fly a peace flag and call for the abolition of nuclear arms.
Each
year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21
September. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to
strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and
peoples.
