In Brussels, in front of the Cathedral of St. Michel et Gudule, on 31th January 2016. Feast of St. Blaise was celebrated for the third consecutive year. The organiser of the celebration were the Representative office of Dubrovnik – Neretva County and Matica Hrvatska in Brussels in cooperation with Croatian Tourist Board and the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Belgium. About a hundred persons from Dubrovnik along with their guests attended the beginning of the Feast of St. Blaise. Same as in Dubrovnik, the organisers of the celebration had previously made a proclamation signed by hosts – Festanjuli, Marko Klečak and Ivo Mihajlović.
After the Croatian hymn, hymns to freedom and Hymns of St. Blaise, the have read a proclamation in Croatian, French and English. Proclamation was read to the celebrants, doyen of the Cathedral of. Claude Castiaud, after which the white doves were released, as a symbol of freedom and peace. Commemorative gifts and doves of peace were brought by the girls who came to the Fest dressed in national costume from Konavle. The flag of St. Blaise and the Croatian flag were worn by Ivo Dragć and Davor Buconić. After the opening of the Feast, a traditional religious ceremony called ‘grlicanje’ or The Blessing of the Throats was also organised. Previous to this part, the president of Matica Hrvatska in Brussels, Ivica Srsen had read a letter from the Bishop of Dubrovnik, Msgr. Mate Uzinic written to the people of Dubrovnik who live in Belgium.
People in Brussels tried the menu with ham, zelena menestra and rozata. Feast of St. Blaise is being celebrated since 972. A year after the Dubrovnik Senate has proclaimed St. Blaise to be Dubrovnik’s protector because it is believed that he defended the city from the Venetians.