First translation of this page was made using the Alvistata free translation service.


This page is like the page "Douai" intended for the "vint' d'osier" and for all those which are still unaware of what is a vint'd'osier is

But what a vint'd'osier? will say the ignoramuses... Two more famous are without question
Gayant (image JPEG 17K) and his wife Marie Cagenon (image JPEG 21K), largest but also (without any chauvinism) most beautiful among the giants of North, and, why not say it, of the whole world. The belly of our giants is made of wicker the vint' d'osier (vint means belly in local patois, osier is wicker) is by extension the native of Douai!


The Gayant family and its festival

It is made up of Mister and Mrs Gayant (Marie Cagenon) and their children Jacquot, Fillon and Binbin. If Gayants are made of wicker, it is that at the beginning, back in 1530, they were built by the corporation of the "manneliers" (wicker craftsmen) at the time of a procession in the honor of St Maurand, patron saint of the city. The tradition has remained since, and the giants reappear from their ashes after each ordeal.
And they have known a lot during centuries! In 1770, the bishop of Arras prohibited the procession because it commemorated the victory of the town of Douai over the French on June 16 1479 whereas the city had been just reconquered by Louis XIV in 1667: it instituted a new festival which would celebrate this new uniting but by removing the Gayant family, judged too pagan and probably too Spanish because our Gayant is know to be actually a valorous warrior who defended the city against the French army... if one believes some historians. It should be noted that if the giants, commun runs in North of France and in Belgium, appeared at the time of the Hispanic domination on Flandres, their Spanish origin is doubtful: indeed, one finds giants in many European countries such as for example in the United Kingdom.


Gayant walked again in the streets of Douai only in 1801 and acquired the current costumes in 1821.
It was unfortunately not finished with it their misfortunes. They were destroyed during two world wars, not resisting neither German nor with the Anglo American bombardments.Current Gayants were thus rebuilt in 1954. There is a filmed document of this new birth which was in particular diffused by France 3 (French Public TV) in the excellent emission " Faut pas rever" in complement of a report carried out in 1995.


The Gayant festival takes place every year on the first Sunday which follows July 5th. At this occasion, Gayants walk in the city during three days. Their displacements are ensured by carriers resulting from the same families since several generations. Even if it does not carry its giant, all Douaisien who respects himself entered during its childhood at least once Gayant or his wife's wicker belly , in spite of legitimate fear that they inspired to him. But after 3 days, the Gayants have to go home... It is always made difficult by the crowd of the Douaisiens which, as required by the tradition, try vainly to maintain them in the streets, should it rain or snow, which is fortunately more than rare in July (even if some people from southern parts of France doubt it).


But it should well be admitted that after three days of efforts, the carriers deserve one year full of rest.


The outputs of Gayants apart from the normal period of their festivals are exceptional: every 20 years for Intervilles (TV show), in 1982 for the 50 years of the belfry of Lille, or for the turning of a film (" Mr Albert " by Jacques Renard and with Philippe Noiret in 1975).


An output out of the walls of the city (recently destroyed) take place on July 3, 1910, at least if one believes of it an article of the " Petit Journal" Sunday July 10, 1910.


Since November 2005, Gayant is part of the Unesco World Heritage, as a member of "Géants et dragons processionnels de Belgique et de France".



Measurements of Gayants

Name Height Weight Carriers
Mr. Gayant 8,50m / 27-11 370kg / 772lbs 6 men
Mrs. Gayant 6,25m / 20-6 250kg / 551lbs 6 men
Jacquot 3,40m / 11-2 80kg / 176lbs 1 man
Fillon 3,15m / 10-4 70kg / 154lbs 1 man
Binbin 2,40m / 7-10 45kg / 99lbs 1 man


Gayant '97


Gayant '98, everyone could notice many blue, white, red colored faces... It was on July 12th, and France was not (yet) world champion! But the national football team was about to win its very first title! Unfortunately, due to some technical problem, no pictures! But fortunately, some have been provided by web surfers from Douai!

Gayant '99, no photos. Even the "vint'd'osiers" sometimes miss the annual Gayant's walk...

Gayant '00


Gayant '02


Archives

Gayant '74


Links (in French)

Back in 1994, this page was alone. Since then, many have join the family, and among them:

For the amateurs of giants, and not only of Gayant, let's notice that there are associations of friends of the giants of which in particular:


La Ronde des Geants
Maison des Geants,
Ferme d'Ennequin
11 rue Ambroise Paré
BP56
59374 LOOS CEDEX


For these same amateurs, the reading of the higher quoted article is highly recommended.

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