Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France
January 07, 2023
The processional giants and dragons (French: Géants et dragons processionnels) of Belgium and France are a set of folkloric manifestations involving processional giants, which have been inscribed by UNESCO on the lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008, originally proclaimed in November 2005.[1]
Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France
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 costumed 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. The large biblical figures in the procession also served the purpose of catechising a largely illiterate population.[2]
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.[3] Belgium also has the largest giant in Europe; Jean Turpin of Nieuwpoort, which exceeds 11 metres (36 ft).
The Belgian cultural heritage includes the following events:
The giant is one of the symbols of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. 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).
^"UNESCO - Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France". ich.unesco.org. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
^Ducastelle, Jean-Pierre. Géants et dragons : Mythes et traditions à Bruxelles, en Wallonie, dans le Nord de la France et en Europe Relié [Giants and dragons: Myths and traditions in Brussels, Wallonia, Northern France and Europe] (in French).
^Nivelles Tourism website, about Nivelles' Goliath
^Moller-Nielsen, Thomas (3 December 2022). "Belgian parade removed from UNESCO heritage list over racism complaints". The Brussels Times. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
^Base Palissy: Note about Reuze Papa, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
^Base Palissy: Note about Reuze Maman, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
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)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France.
January 07, 2023
processional, giants, dragons, belgium, france, processional, giants, dragons, french, géants, dragons, processionnels, belgium, france, folkloric, manifestations, involving, processional, giants, which, have, been, inscribed, unesco, lists, intangible, cultur. The processional giants and dragons French Geants et dragons processionnels of Belgium and France are a set of folkloric manifestations involving processional giants which have been inscribed by UNESCO on the lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008 originally proclaimed in November 2005 1 Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and FranceUNESCO Intangible Cultural HeritageDucasse de MonsCountry Belgium amp France Reference00153RegionEurope and North AmericaInscription historyInscription2008ListRepresentativeThrough 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 Lumecon 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 Pezenas 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 Contents 1 Background 2 Belgium 3 France 4 References 4 1 Notes 5 See also 6 External linksBackground EditThe processional giant is a gigantic costumed 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 The large biblical figures in the procession also served the purpose of catechising a largely illiterate population 2 Belgium EditBelgium 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 3 Belgium also has the largest giant in Europe Jean Turpin of Nieuwpoort which exceeds 11 metres 36 ft The Belgian cultural heritage includes the following events Ducasse d Ath withdrawn in 2022 4 Ducasse de Mons Meyboom of Brussels Ommegang van Dendermonde Ommegang van Mechelen The giant Ambiorix at the Ducasse d Ath Belgium Giants of Tournai Belgium Giants of the Meyboom of Brussels Giants of Belgian American community in Brussels WisconsinFrance EditThe giant is one of the symbols of the Nord Pas de Calais region 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 Bucheron and La Belle Helene in Steenvoorde and Totor of Steenwerck In the South in the Languedoc region there is the Pezenas colt and in the Provence the tarasque of Tarascon Bouches du Rhone Cassel Reuze Papa 5 and Reuze Maman 6 Douai Gayant Marie Cagenon Fillon Jacquot Binbin Pezenas le Poulain Tarascon la Tarasque Reuze Papa of Cassel France Giants couple Gayant and Marie Cagenon Douai France Fibreglass Tarasque in Tarascon FranceReferences EditNotes Edit UNESCO Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France ich unesco org Retrieved 27 July 2019 Ducastelle Jean Pierre Geants et dragons Mythes et traditions a Bruxelles en Wallonie dans le Nord de la France et en Europe Relie Giants and dragons Myths and traditions in Brussels Wallonia Northern France and Europe in French Nivelles Tourism website about Nivelles Goliath Moller Nielsen Thomas 3 December 2022 Belgian parade removed from UNESCO heritage list over racism complaints The Brussels Times Retrieved 4 December 2022 Base Palissy Note about Reuze Papa Ministere francais de la Culture in French Base Palissy Note about Reuze Maman Ministere francais de la Culture in French See also EditProcessional giantExternal links EditProcessional 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 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France amp oldid 1125527138, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
