The Kermit Mini-Statue in Budapest’s Liberty Square Park is an homage to the time in Hungarian history when frog legs were a popular dish.
Kermit Mini-Statue
Szabadság Square 10 (Liberty Square)
GPS: 47.503886, 19.050268
If you are wandering along Szabadság Square (Liberty Square) near Parliament you could very well miss the Kermit mini-statue, if you don’t happen to look down.
Nestled under the fence looking upward towards the square’s café you’ll find this beloved Muppet. But why is there a Kermit mini-statue in Budapest?
Before World War II, fried frogs legs would only be found as a dish on the festive tables of noble families, and mainly as a delicacy at a several course meal. However, after the war, it became the most sought after item at the local market. Modest households that used to prefer beef, pork steaks and fried chicken turned to frogs legs when those meat became unavailable. In some of the larger markets, they operated large frog farms to help supply the demand. In the countryside, children made money by catching frogs, and with the right culinary expertise, many compares the taste to chicken thighs. – So maybe this is the origin of the phrase “tastes like chicken.”
While the statue was created to recognize when frog legs became a Hungarian delicacy in the late 19th century, don’t worry! Kermit is well-loved and not likely to be eaten. If you happen to see him during the winter months, you may find that someone has dressed him in a cozy little scarf (because it can get awfully cold in the snow).
Don’t ask us why people leave coins on the Kermit mini-statue. We do not know. But they come and they go, so I guess Kermit takes a break to go shopping every now and then… and he needs his legs to do that.
Buda, Baths, and Beyond (BBB) – Through an extensive series of short, entertaining, and informational videos, BBB attempts to lure travelers to the streets of Budapest and to explore this vast, amazing city on foot. The streets will come alive as Hungarian history, legends, culture, and hidden secrets are illuminated and celebrated, making even a brief stop in Budapest a unique and memorable experience.
Forrest Mallard (@forrestmallard) – HOST/PRODUCER – the host of Buda, Baths, and Beyond is an avid world-traveler and has been on the road, non-stop, since early 2005. Along the way he has picked up an insatiable desire for walking long-distance trails and he hopes to one day have completed at least one major trek in every country in the world. BBB is an attempt to help travelers to Budapest embrace the joy of walking through a bit of urban exploring.
Matt Burgess (@notmattburgess) – CO-HOST – is a researcher and writer currently residing in Edinburgh, UK, but he’d rather spend his time bouncing between hostels in the Balkans.
Budapest Party Hostels (www.budapestpartyhostels.com) – Budapest is the birthplace of the party hostels as we know it. A beautiful jewel of culture and history of Europe, it is also famous for its thriving party scene, with Spa parties, ruin bars and plenty of nightclubs to go wild. On top of that, one of the biggest festivals in Europe, Sziget Festival, known as the European Burning Man and that is held every year in one of the islands of the Danube. Traveling solo or in a group, if you are looking for hostels where you can meet like-minded people looking to have fun in Budapest these hostels are the place to go! Friendly staff, fun atmosphere and plenty of organized activities to encourage guest socializing.
Tramposaurus Treks (www.tramposaurus.com) – The ultimate guide to taking a nice walk. Around the block or across the continent, Tramposaurus Treks wants you to get off your ass, put on your walking shoes, get outside, and have yourself an adventure. With city maps of famous cities to do a bit of urban exploring, as well as an extensive catalog of long-distance treks all over the world, Tramposaurus Treks has all of the resources you need.
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