Back in 1835, the nephew of Emperor Nicholas I, Prince Peter of Oldenburg, founded the Imperial School of Law in a house located on the Fontanka embankment. Students who studied in it wore green uniforms with yellow buttonholes, resembling the feathers of small birds — sizhiks. In addition, their uniforms also included puffed hats. This explains the fact that young people began to be called pig-sizhiks. Although there is another legend: they say that the students were distinguished by their overly pompous face, which is why they were nicknamed “puffs”. Students had fun, often visiting a nearby tavern. So a playful song “Chizhik-Pyzhik, where have you been? I drank vodka on Fontanka.”

In 1994, a satire festival “Zolotoy Ostap” took place, the participant of which writer Andrey Bitov proposed to build a monument to Chizhik-Pyzhik. Everyone liked the idea, and the Georgian sculptor Rezo Gabriadze, according to the project created by architect Vyacheslav Bukhaev, cast a bird in bronze.

A small sculpture instantly acquired many legends and signs. According to one of the most famous, a passerby should make a wish and throw a coin on the pedestal so that it does not fall into the water. In this scenario, the dream will come true.

Chizhik-Pyzhik is very popular among newlyweds. According to tradition, the groom should tie a glass with a rope, fill it, carefully, trying not to spill a single drop, lower it to the monument and mess with the beak of the siskin, without breaking the container. If all these complex requirements are met, the couple's family life will be prosperous and will not be overshadowed by any problems.

The Chizhik-Pyzhik monument is considered the most attractive for thieves: in the years since its installation, the baby has been kidnapped seven times. Residents of St. Petersburg made every effort to return it and restore it to its original place. More than once it was found at metal receiving points. After the last theft, the sculpture could not be found, but its original model has been preserved, according to which the chizhik was cast again. This time it is attached very carefully, and Petersburgers hope that the theft will stop.