05 Jul 2010 - 05 Jul 2010  

The annual Festival of the Giants in the French town of Douai is the largest event of its kind and features over 100 effigies that parade through the streets. The giants or 'gayants' (a Picardy dialect variation of the French word for giant, 'geant') are made from wickerwork to represent colourful characters from local legends. They are greeted and cheered wherever they are seen around the town. The huge figures traditionally include, among other characters, Monsieur and Madame Gayant and their children Binbin, Fillon and Jacquot, each controlled by teams of five or six people. The festival also features music, theatre and food stalls. The origins of the event date back to 1530 and are very much a part of the Flemish tradition of the region. The giants, including figures representing the devil and dragons, were banned in 1667 by the religious orders of the day and their use was intermittent over the next 200 years. The tradition has survived many bans and has become a great celebration enjoyed by young and old alike.

Times
Various.