Why is the Mannekin Pis dressed?

I was there yesterday on a layover is Brussels and was surprised to see that the Manneken pis was in full attire. Is there a special reason?

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manneken_Pis -

Traditions

On many occasions, the statue is dressed in a costume. His wardrobe now consists of several hundred different costumes. The costumes are changed according to a schedule managed by the non-profit association The Friends of Manneken-Pis, in ceremonies that are often accompanied by brass band music. Also on occasion, the statue is hooked up to a keg of beer. Cups will be filled up with the beer flowing from the statue and given out to people passing by.

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That is intresting, thanks

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The Musee de la Ville on the Grand Place displays hundreds of his costumes.

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I%26#39;m not sure which question you are asking:

1) Why is the Mannekin Pis dressed (at all)? or

2) Why was the MP dressed as he was yesterday?

1) Maximilien-Emanuel, Prince-Elector of Bavaria and general governor of the Spanish Netherlands (including Brussels) gave him his first costume in 1698, when he won an archery competition: he had outfits made in Bavarian blue cloth for all the members of the archers%26#39; guild and included one for the MP, who is traditionally a %26quot;member%26quot; of all the local guilds. Then, after the statue was stolen by French soldiers in 1747, Louis XV had it returned with a magnificent costume (in fact, he knighted it which meant that the soldiers had to salute it whenever they passed by..). Thus was born the tradition of giving the statue costumes - he still receives new ones all the time, and will be getting one from Ecuador on 19 September.

2) Each costume is worn on a specific day - and as he now has some 800, on some days he has to be changed several times (it is very funny to watch the guy who does it, who is a great character and sometimes turns the fountain tap so that it squirts into the crowd)! The costume calendar is displayed on the railings around the fountain or on the wall next to the statue. It is also supposed to be available online but the one for August has mysteriously disappeared, and this illustrated one is incomplete: ilotsacre.be/images/…manneken_pis.htm.

I wonder whether it couldn%26#39;t have been this one, for Ukrainian Independence Day: ukrassociation.eu/2008/08/26/celebration_eng/

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Thanks for the informative answer.

I think he was dressed more in an arabian fashion with a head turban