Les Fêtes de Gayant, a true Douaisian tradition, takes place every year in July. The giants ("gayant" in Picard) travel through the town for 3 days to the sound of drums.
Les Fêtes de Gayant, a true Douaisian tradition, takes place every year in July. The giants ("gayant" in Picard) travel through the town for 3 days to the sound of drums.
The Fêtes de Gayants were originally a religious celebration to thank Saint Maurand, the patron saint of Douai, who prevented the capture of the Flemish town by the French.
In the 16th century, several corporations had to provide a cart with characters representing symbolic scenes. The first giant was manufactured by the corporation of the Manneliers(manufacturers of wicker baskets).
In the following years, the fruit corporation built a giant named Marie Cagenon, more commonly known as Madame Gayant.
Since then, she has accompanied her husband in all the processions, joined by their three children: Jacquot, Fillon and Binbin from the 17th century.
The festivities last a fortnight, it is the only time of year when the giants are brought out.
The Gayant family appears for 3 days during a large parade through the streets of Douai where they walk, turn around and dance the rigodon. They are also accompanied by the roue de la fortune cart and the sot des cannoniers, the "cheval-jupon" who is in charge of a collection for the carriers of the giants.
At the end of the festivities, the family returns to the Giant's House in order to be in form the following year and to welcome the nearly 100 000 visitors who attend the festivities and that always ends with a firework show.
Jessica from Comme des Français
Other Northern traditions to discover here :
