Por Redaccion 
The famous Brussels statue Manneken Pis wore the traditional Asturian costume this Saturday in an event organized by the Centro Asturiano de Bruselas, in collaboration with the Government of the Principality of Asturias, in homage to the bond that the community maintains with the collective abroad.
The Director General of Emigration and Return Policies, Olaya Gómez Romano, attended the event, held on the central rue de l’Etuve, where Asturias and its cider were the protagonists.
According to the Asturian government, from 4:00 p.m., the statue paid tribute to Asturian culture with an outfit consisting of a hat, vest, and sash, replacing the costume donated in 1987 by the regional house in the Belgian capital. The event featured traditional music and dances, as well as a symbolic pouring of cider to pay tribute to the recent recognition of cider culture as intangible heritage of humanity.
«Today we celebrate the deep and lasting bond that unites Asturias with its citizens abroad. This tribute is not only a display of our folklore, but also an affirmation of identity, belonging, and shared future,» said Romano. The director also highlighted the commitment of the regional government to its emigration and «the tireless work of the Centro Asturiano de Bruselas as an ambassador of Asturias in Europe.»
The Asturian community in Belgium numbers more than 8,000 people and is the largest in Europe and the fifth largest worldwide. The Centro Asturiano de Bruselas was founded in 1986.
The new Manneken Pis costume was approved by the commission responsible for authorizing the clothing of this iconic figure. It is a privilege enjoyed by only six European regions each year, as stated by the Principality. The president of the Centro Asturiano, Eva Buelga, explained that the attire presented adheres more faithfully to the historical standards of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, offering a more updated and rigorous image of Asturian tradition.
The event program included speeches by Olaya Gómez Romano, as well as by the counselor of the Spanish Embassy in Brussels, Adrián Romero, and representatives of the Brussels City Council and members of the Manneken Pis Commission.
FUENTE