Processions in Belgium and France with the participation of giant dolls

Giant dolls first appear on religious processions in many European cities at the end of the XIV century, preserved today in Belgium ( At , Brussels , Dendermonde , Mechelen and Mons ) and France ( Cassel , Douai , Pezenas and Tarascon ) ^[1] . Representations that often combine elements of religious processions and secular processions differ from city to city, but always obey certain rituals, which reveal the connection of giants with history, legends or city life.

Dolls of giants and dragons that have large sizes — up to 9 meters high and 350 kg in weight — represent mythical heroes or animals, local celebrities, historical, biblical or legendary characters ^[1] . For example, St. George , who kills the dragon Lumeson (Mons), the legendary horse of Charlemagne - Bayard (Dendermonde), father and mother Reuze (Kassel). Dolls enliven popular festivals, at which they are the main actors at least once a year (each character has his own day). They act out historical scenes, dance surrounded by musicians and costumed people who accompany the procession and help carry out the various stages of the performance.

The creation and maintenance of dolls require many months of work and special knowledge, which are now under threat due to changes in the modern lifestyle. Processions of giants and dragons in 2005 became the object of intangible world heritage of Belgium and France , and in 2008 UNESCO included them in the list of intangible World Heritage sites in Europe ^[1] .

In Belgium, there are almost 1,500 famous giant characters; the oldest of them is Goliath in Nivelles , which was first mentioned in 1457. In Belgium there is also the biggest giant in Europe, “Jean Turpen” in Nieuvport , which is over 11 meters tall. The most famous festivals:

• - first mentioned in 1399, runs a few days before September 8 ^[2] .
• , or Dudu - takes place at the weekend of the Holy Trinity, the central event is the presentation of the battle of St. George and the dragon ^[3] .
• , or “Brabant tree of joy” - the oldest folk tradition of Brussels, known since 1308, played out on August 9, on the night of St. Lawrence ^[4] .
• - runs every 10 years, it has a giant horse Bayard ^[5] .
• - held every 25 years since 1492, especially known for its horse parade ^[6] .

In France, giant dolls are common in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region , in which more than 450 giants are known, most of all in the areas where Flemish live. The most famous processions:

• -pa and Reuze-mom from Kassel ^[7] .
• Giant from Douai - known since 1530, the procession takes place during the first weekend after June 5 ^[8] .
• Horse from Pezenas - runs on the day of St. Blasia to the carnival; the central event is the procession of mares, which are a symbol of the city since the crusades ^[9] .
• Tarask from Tarascon, also known as the “Feast of the Beasts,” has been known since 1474; held on the second Sunday after Pentecost and based on the myth of the dragon Taraske , known since antiquity ^[10] .

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  Goliath. Ath, Belgium

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  The giants of the city of At on the Grand Place in Brussels during the World Exhibition , 1935

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  St. George kills the dragon. Festival "Ducasse de Mons", XIX century

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  Reuze-dad and Reuze-mom. Kassel, France

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  Horse Poulain. Pezenas, France

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  Dragon Tarask. Tarascon, France

• ,
• Kattenstut - "cat parade" with giant dolls of cats in Ypres

•   There are media files on Wikimedia Commons in Belgium and France with giant dolls.
• Characters and streets (history of giants of Northern France) (Fr.)
• Association of Giants of Northern France (Fr.)
• List of giants of France and Belgium (Fr.)