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"Those two things are really part of our heritage, of our
identity, they're part of our folklore, and we want to make sure
they are preserved for the future," said the city's state
secretary for heritage, Ans Persoons.
"When we think of protecting the past it should not only be
about bricks and architecture but it should also be about our
traditions and our culture."
Following the filings, UNESCO designations might follow in
December, 2025.
Nicolas Geal, whose family theatre is the only Brussels venue
keeping the centuries-old tradition of rod puppetry alive, said
the UNESCO listing might save the art form from oblivion.
"This way, maybe some other people will start new initiatives,"
said Geal, speaking in his Theatre Toone, which sits in
Brussels' historical centre and features several shows a week,
its repertoire ranging from Dracula to Faust.
The rod puppetry tradition originates from travelling carnival
theatres in the Renaissance and was widely popular during the
19th century. Nowadays, puppeteers concealed behind a screen
bring puppets to life during shows by pulling their rods.
Just a stone's throw away is the city's fabled historic main
square, or Grand Place, the setting for the biennale flower
carpet tradition that attracts some 200,000 spectators each
time.
Brussels laid its first flower carpet - a scented display that
tracks its origins to Mediterranean countries in the 14th
century - some 50 years ago. The next one is due in August, with
around half a million begonias or dahlias for the design.
(Reporting by Marta Fiorin and Nette Nöstlinger, Editing by
Gabriela Baczynska and Devika Syamnath)
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