Visit Catalonia while there’s some kind of festival going on, and you might be lucky enough to see Gegants. They’re huge and heavy figures which, during festivals, are carried by some poor – unseen – soul probably sweating and longing for the moment when he (and it’s invariably a ‘he’) can put his burden down and disappear for a drink. They usually represent various traditional characters, though in the early days, way back in the 15th century, they had the job of telling Bible stories.
While we were staying with daughter-and-family in Premià de Mar over Easter, Malcolm and I, out with granddaughter Anaïs, had a piece of luck. A small band of people were hauling the local gegants out of store, and generally checking them over . They invited us to look round the store if we wanted, and we did. I find some of these creatures a little on the creepy side: all the same, I was a bit disappointed that we couldn’t be around on the day that these lumbering giants stalked the streets of the town for one day only.
Come and have a look round the store room with us …
I’ve a feeling that this time, a love story was on the cards. The sort where the Hunk and the Kind and Virtuous Maid live happily ever after.
Do you agree?
For Natalie’s Exploring Public Art Challenge – again.
From Pyrenees to Pennines 
She looks hopeful, doesn’t she? A lucky find, Margaret. A few faces there that only a mother could love. Our scarecrows are a bit like that. So much effort goes into these things. Gotta love ’em!
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Yes, Just as long as I don’t meet the benighted soul who was modelling for them 😉
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I was thoroughly disconcerted by that first picture until I read your post, thinking where are their legs! What lucky timing to be shown around the store. Someone had fun making some of those figures. I hope they weren’t based on the locals.
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I can assure you that the locals seem a pretty handsome bunch on the whole! But some of the figures go back many years, so … who knows?
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Ah, bad luck that you didn’t see a procession…I have seen similar figures on some jolly in Madeira
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In some ways it was better. We have ‘done’ processions in the past, and this was a chance to see ‘under the bonnet’.
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Good point
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Great pics!
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Thanks! They’re quite photogenic.
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Years ago I was in Barcelona and came across these enormous terrifying things in a parade. It was a great photo op but I had no idea what was going on!
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Perhaps it was part of an Easter-tide celebration? Who knows. Anything for a party, eh?
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They are intriguing, although I find the row of heads a little unnerving. Min the topless chap has definitely had his Weetabix and then hit the gym, hasn’t he?
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He’s had somethin good, but being Spanish, not Weetabix perhaps. Pan con tomate? Yes, I find the heads a little unsettling too.
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A wonderful find 🙂
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Weren’t we lucky?
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Sure were
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They are wonderful, so many characters, so much character!
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There are plenty more where they came from. All equally – er – intriguing.
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👍🏽
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How fascinating! It’s a shame you missed the procession but this must have been a pretty unique opportunity, seeing inside the store like this 😀
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We were chuffed to bits.
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A delightful and intriguing find! I love that girl figure with her happy eyes and tongue sticking out. Thank you for your PPAC contribution. Keep them coming.
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Thanks! Will do.
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I’d enjoy seeing the performance. Wearing these must be so hot inside and even worse, humid.
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I think so. Hunk would need another hunk to carry him.
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How fun to see the cataloia, Margaret! Love their expressions. 🙂
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They’re quite creepy, aren’t they?
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What a tremendous effort goes into such festivals, and similar sights can be seen all around the world. Well done to the tireless folk who carry on such traditions!
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Hear hear! And watch out for Coronation yarn bombing here on Saturday!
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You do know it’s world naked gardening day?
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Too cold. Otherwise … 😉
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Excuses, excuses!
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Creepy is definitely the word!
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I think so. Their mothers will have loved them though. I think.
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Oh, definitely creepy! Especially the detached heads! I always find puppets quite creepy, even dolls, so the idea of larger than life-sized ones that move around is the basis for a horror story in my mind. I would like to see them in action though – I bet it’s very impressive.
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I think on the streets, being larger than life somehow makes them less creepy – to me. But everyone responds differently.
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