Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France

Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
Ducasse de Mons
Country	[[Belgium, France]]
Reference	00153
Region	Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription	2008
List	Representative

The processional giants and dragons (French: Géants et dragons processionnels) of Belgium and France are a set of folkloric manifestations which have been inscribed by UNESCO on the lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008, originally proclaimed in November 2005.^[1]

Through these festivals and their giants, this concerns the set of gigantic manifestations specific to each country. In the case of Belgium, these are the festivities of Dendermonde (Ommegang van Dendermonde), Mechelen (Ommegang van Mechelen), Mons (the Ducasse de Mons, and the fight which is named the "Lumeçon"), Ath (the Ducasse d'Ath) and Brussels (the Meyboom). For France, these are the feasts at Douai (feasts of Gayant) and Cassel (carnival) and the totemic animals and their celebrations in Tarascon and Pézenas (Mardi Gras, inauguration of the Mirondela dels Arts on the first Sunday in July).

This proclamation allows for a valorisation of these popular festivals and their protection.

The processional giant is a gigantic figure that represents a fictitious or real being. Inherited from medieval rites, tradition has it that it is carried, and that it dances in the streets during processions or festivals. Its physiognomy and size are variable, and its name-giving varies according to the regions; among the Flemings, it is known by the name of Reuze, among the Picards it is called Gayant.

Belgium[]

Belgium has nearly 1500 giants on its soil. Their appearance dates back to the 15th century; Goliath of Nivelles, which is mentioned as early as 1457, is the oldest known Belgian giant.^[2] The Belgians also have the largest giant in Europe, Jean Turpin of Nieuwpoort, which exceeds 11 meters.

The Belgian cultural heritage includes the following events:

• Ducasse d'Ath
• Ducasse de Mons
• Meyboom of Brussels
• Ommegang van Dendermonde
• Ommegang van Mechelen

• 

  The giant Ambiorix at the Ducasse d'Ath
• 

  Giants of Tournai, Belgium
• 

  Giants of the Meyboom of Brussels
• 

  Giants of Belgian American community in Brussels, Wisconsin

France[]

Reuze Papa and Reuze Maman of Cassel

The Giant is one of the symbols of the region Nord-Pas-de-Calais. It is the object of ancestral cultural practices that are still kept alive. Present at regional festivals and events, he represents the northern community.

The region currently has more than 450 giants, spread over the whole territory. There are nevertheless more dynamic intra-regional zones, located around central points. The Flemish part of the region is a land of giants; each city has one or more of them. Examples include Reuze Papa and Reuze Maman of Cassel, Tisje Tasje of Hazebrouck, Jean de Bûcheron and La Belle Hélène in Steenvoorde, and Totor of Steenwerck. In the South, in the Languedoc region, there is the Pézenas colt, and in the Provence, the tarasque of Tarascon (Bouches-du-Rhône).

• Cassel: Reuze Papa^[3] and Reuze Maman^[4]
• Douai: Gayant, Marie Cagenon, Fillon, Jacquot, Binbin
• Pézenas: le Poulain
• Tarascon: la Tarasque

Notes and references[]

See also[]

• Gigantes y cabezudos

External links[]

• Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France at the Unesco website
• L'effigie et la rue (historical article about the giants in northern France) (in French)
• The federation of the giants of northern France (in French)

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