Gegants – huge human-type figures propelled by actual humans hidden within them – have been a feature of Catalan festive life since the 15th century. Then, they were part of a religious tradition. From the 19th century, they became more and more a celebration of the lives of the community they sprang from. So here in Premià de Mar – Premià-on-Sea – they represent piratical derring-do.
And the Gegants came out to play today as part of a low-key local folk festival, Rebombori. They took over the streets of the town, as did cohorts of child drummers, child dancers, child comperes and slightly disconcerting child Gegants. And we the townsfolk followed wherever they led, coming across more and more friends as the morning turned into afternoon: an excellent time was had by all.
These were all taken on my phone, and better shots are – I hope – to be found on my camera. But phone-posting is my lot at the moment, so … make do with these please, for now.
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Brill
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Can’t beat a bit of Catalan fun! Are you home again yet, Margaret?
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Nope, not yet. Not till Thursday. I’ll miss everything about being here. Including the weather.
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I can’t believe that 🤣🩵. And you have an eagerly awaiting husband!
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That’s true. I’ll be glad to be home, but not in dimal
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Aaagh, I hadn’t finished my comment! I’ll be glad to be home, but not in dismal-weather election-fever England!
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I can understand that. They actually had a couple of sunny days at the weekend. My son was in Hovingham.
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And at this rate he’ll be talking about it for months. I was supposed to be going to the Farne Islands today. Looking at the British forecast, the trip will be cancelled anyway.
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You’ve extended your stay? A few more cuddles!
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Definitely! Who wouldn’t want those!
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Much more exciting then morris dancing (apologies to any morris dancing readers!)
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ah but have you seen the punk morris dancers?!
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No, but I really want to, now!
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they are brilliant – saw three different punk groups a few weeks ago at a Green man festival. I must do a post on them all one day soon
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Sounds brilliant!
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Please do. Sounds fascinating.
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I find Morris dancing just a little odd, even though normally I love old traditions.
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yep, very odd
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I agree the child versions are definitely creepy!
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Nobody seems to disagree on this one!
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The Gegants have arrived! Hmmm, those child gegants really are a tad freaky!
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I know! Very unsettling.
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Dolls have a similar effect on me…
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Glad you had fun, weird but fun
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Only the child Gegants were weird. Everything else was just Good Clean Fun.
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fabulous – can’t resist a local festival
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They’re so good at that here too.
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Who knew that they were, at one time, quite prevalent in England too!
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These are fun and I’m glad to put a name to them. We saw two in Oaxaca in Mexico, part of the celebrations of a wedding or engagement 🙂
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The Gegants – or gigantes – seem to have become quite widespread. Unsurprising,as they seem an amicable lot and demand a lot of community participation.
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I have never heard of Gegants before. WONDERFUL photos, Margaret. I had to find out more and have discovered that have been recognized as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Many, many thanks!
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I’m so glad they piqued your interest, Rebecca. They’ll probably feature again when I’ve downloaded my camera photos.
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Wonderful!!! Looking forward to seeing them!🤗🤗🤗
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Some of these are quite scary looking….
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…and creepy.
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Fascinating!
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Rather!
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It must be amazing to watch them! I’ve never seen something like that before! (Only in photos)
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They get quite regular outings in Catalonia. All good clean fun!
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I can imagine that 😃
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Your gegants are similar to the giant figures we saw
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I think they’re pretty much all the-same-but-different. Emily says the town has even bigger ones brought out for bigger occasions.
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These are pretty fascinating. I bet they are hot to wear!
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Good point. This may be why such processions are generally held in the morning, before the sun really kicks in.
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Gegants, how different and fun to watch these!
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Yes, we had a really fun morning .
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What a fun festival! The Catalanes know how to have a good time.
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They do.Lots of family- oriented fun on many weekends.
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That’s a great perk for families. We are lucky that way too. Lots of free festivals.
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What fun you had Margaret. I enjoyed the pictures.
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