Gayant

Gayant is the giant carried which symbolizes the town of Douai (France - department of North). Surrounded by his wife, Marie Cagenon, and of their three children, Jacquot, Fillon and Binbin, he traverses the city each year during three days at the time of the festivals of Gayant, at the beginning of July. The Large Procession of Sunday afternoon is the culminating point of these days, after the arrival in the morning of the Gayant family to large complete in the court of the Town hall of Douai, with the foot of the Beffroi.

Gayant is registered with the oral and immaterial Patrimoine of humanity like member of “Géants and processional dragons of Belgium and France”.

The Gayant family

Some data on the family

The current family of giants is the result of a succession of construction-rebuildings ( NR ), restorations ( R ) and disappearances ( D ) successive. The dates of the first representations were independent from/to each other, the principal dates sont :

For Gayant: 1530 ( NR ), 1690 ( R ), 1692 ( NR ), 1700 ( R ), 1703 ( NR ), 1712 ( NR ), 1716 ( R ), 1719 ( R ), 1723 ( R ), 1724 ( R ), 1734 ( R ), 1741 ( R ), 1779, at the end of the 9th century, the inhabitants of the city of the edge of Scarpe, anxious from the cruel attacks, came to request from the lord Cantin, Jehan Gelon, to come to help them if the city were attacked. The man, known for his force herculéenne and his kindness, accepted, advised to them to take refuge in the tower and to await it in the event of attack. When the city was besieged by the Normands, Jehan Gelon, accompanied by its three sons, arrived miraculeusement in the city (he acknowledges later with the Residents of Douai which a tunnel connected the tower to its Château), and undertook the counter-attack. Its courage and its determination reflect in rout the attacker which, while leaving, destroyed its castle and massacred the women there. Jehan and its sons decided to go guerroyer to far try to forget the loss of their partners. He died according to the legend close to Bavay. But the Residents of Douai in remembering its acts made of a giant the symbol of the city.

; Maurand saint or Holy Maurant: Many historians reject the legend of Jean Gelon and prefer to see a homage of the city there to Saint Maurand. There exist two stories supporting this assumption which have as a common point the appearance of Maurand Saint in dream in order to prevent the catch of the city by Français.
Most usually allowed is the suivante :

In 1479, the French threatened the Burgundian town of Douai then . In the small hour of the June 16th 1479, day of the Maurand Saint, the French troops tried to penetrate in the city by the Door of Arras, the gatekeeper gave alarm and thus saved the city. The gatekeeper declared that the saint man had prevented it in rêve ; the relics of the saint stored with the Collégiale Saint-Heart were then walked in the ville.

The second history proceeds whereas the procession of the giant is already installed, the identification with the Saint would be posterior with the géant :

In 1556, Saint Maurand appeared in dream with the guard of the church of Saint-Heart and ordered to him to sound the Matines. The inhabitants awaked in start armed themselves and went to the ramparts where they transfer a “knight Light” to only fight against the troops of Gaspard de Coligny which besieged the city. This appearance of the knight of light was recognized like that of Maurand Saint and since “the gigantic mannequin of wicker then took the shape and the features of the knight of Lumière

; A child raised by a ourse inter alia stories…: At the 19th century, several accounts in the form of tales or of parts of Théâtre take Gayant like character and reinvent his history. “ intrepid Gayant ”, one of the “ Contes of the king Cambrinus ” writes by Charles Deulin remains most known nowadays : the giant of Douai becomes a wild Enfant raised by a ourse which takes it for one as of his because of its breadth and its force close to that to the bears. A logger collects it, the pupil and the child become adult achieves many exploits thanks to his size, his force and his intelligence.

Description

The giant with current form only since its reappearance of 1954. The description the most remote date of 1530 and described the character like making twenty-two feet top, carrying the costume of the feudal man of war (Helmet, Lance and shield, armor ; its hands are Gant ées). The mannequin was created by the corporation of the manneliers. Until 1598, only one carrier is enough whereas in 1665, one needed already five carriers for the mannequin of wicker which are used as model for all the restorations, only in 1827 was added a cotton coat of color dawn and a streamer out of scarlet serge to the upper part of the lance.

The family

Contrary to Gayant, their appearances do not stick to any historical truth or captions, their numbers or their names were a long time variable.

Marie Cagenon

In 1564 (probably since 1531), the magistrate gives a woman, vêtue as a lady of the manor of the Middle Ages, probably built by the corporation of the Fruitier S. Of 1593 to 1598, only one carrier is enough. In 1665. The costumes follow one another but as from 1782 appears a lawn hat which it will not leave any more. Also goes away from 1792 to 1801, it knows like its husband of clothing changing with the fashion until 1823. Since the only modification with its aspect is that a velvet hat replaces the hat and the range which it carries to the left hand takes its final shape with nine white feathers of wool and nine blue.

Children: Jacquot, Fillon and Binbin

From 1675 to 1687 various children appeared without one being able with which current characters to really attach them. But it is during the 18th century that the number of children varied more, from one to five, before stabilizing themselves since 1781 to two boys and a girl. Like their parents, their final appearance is established by Wallet in 1827 (that is to say four years after the couple of parents), also in a François style Ist.

; Jacquot: The first appearance on the invoices of the town of a giant child goes back to 1675, it is carried by only one carrier but one is unaware of if it is of a boy or a girl. The local historians agree that it is probably about Jacquot (originally spelled Jacot) considered as the groin of the family. The name of Jacquot appears only in 1784.

Jacquot with the aspect of a young knight wearing a velvet hat and a red cloth coat which recovers its right-hand man, thus allowing to hide the fact that to limit the weight, there is no right-hand man.

; Fillon: In 1687, a child girl appears in the invoices even if its presence is intermittent until 1719. The tradition wants that it is the arrival of Fillon. The name of Fillon appears after the baptism of his/her brother in 1785.

Fillon wears a dress of blue color and a hat in feather.

; Binbin: The presence of a giant baby is announced for the first time in 1715, it would act of Binbin. Its name arrives tardily because of the existence since 1777 of the nickname of “Ch' Tiot Tourni”.

Binbin wears a white dress and a bonnet, it holds a Hochet in its right hand and a windmill in the left hand. As for its glance, the habit says that “an eye looks at the Picardy, the other the Champagne” (does it of them is not possible, because it is reached of Strabisme). Popular character because of habits which are dependant for him like the kiss on Binbin, it is the only mannequin has to have four behaviors and to be changed during the three feastdays.

Festivals of Gayant

“Faire Gayant” is a Tradition for the Residents of Douai, however between the first procession and the current one, almost very with advanced through the history. The council échevinal applies the decision in 1699 but as of the following year, the whole of the representations reappears, which causes the anger of the bishop. In 1701, the city agrees to withdraw certain representations (whose St Michel and its devil) but maintain the giants. Only the seat of the city during the War of succession of Spain in 1710, causes the cancellation of the procession of the giants. In 1712, in spite of the occupation, the giants arise and as from 1713 with the return of Douai to France, the rise of the mannequins begins again and in 1715 the family structure is stabilized with five members. Each year until 1769, the Gayant family closes the walk of the procession.

From 1770 to 1801, difficult years

June 14th 1770, the bishop of Arras, Monseigneur de Conzié, prohibited the religious procession (and consequently the procession which followed it) with the reason that évêché forever obtained for request for authorization on behalf of the two collegial ones. The aldermen protest but incline themselves when on June 6th, 1771, a royal edict confirms the decision of évêché with the reason which the procession commemorated the victory of the town of Douai over the French, the June 16th 1479. A new procession is instituted by évêché, it celebrates the birthday of the entry of the French in Douai on July 6th 1667, thus fixing the date of the annual exit of the giant still into force today (Sunday who follows the July 6th). However, the Gayant family regarded as layman was not to appear to with it any more.

October 15th, 1772, the city sells the costumes of the giants and completely applies the prohibition of the mannequins until 1777, year when Gayant only reappears. But as of the following year, the whole of the family returns, the festivals last from now on three days (of the Sunday to Tuesday, like now) and the procession of the representations is separated from the religious procession.

The French revolution leads in 1791 to the cancellation of religious holidays, therefore of Gayant. The following year, the sum of the budget of the festivals is devoted to the festivities of the July 14th during which one celebrates the National guard of Douai. Only the festivities of the national festival are celebrated until the appeasing of the spirits brought by the Consulat in 1801.

From 1801 to 1914, rebirth

June 15th, 1801, a subscription for the rebuilding of the mannequins is opened by association for the re-establishment of Gayant. The Préfet Dieudonné is hostile there because of the proximity of the procession with the national festival. The municipal council authorizes association to organize the festival but only after July 14th (it is held on July 19th, 1801). As of the following year, the town hall becomes again organizing of the festival and decides that “the time of the entry of the French in their city would continue to be celebrated, each year, with the largest apparatus” during three days and at the date of first Sunday after July 6th. There is no more no religious aspect, that becomes a local Fair. Among the old representations, two remain également : it is about the “Wheel of Fortune” and “Stupid of the gunners” (called “the décarroché donkey”).

Parallel to the walks of the giants are organized in the city of the contests of traditional sports (Tir with the arc, greasy pole, etc), of modern sports (Athlétisme, Aviron, Hippisme, etc), of music between various harmonies of the area but also of the Bal s ; a Fireworks closes the festival Tuesday at 10 p.m. There is no more hardly of evolutions until the First World War.

From 1914 to our days, last evolutions

The war brings the destruction of the mannequins, it should be waited until 1920 so that the festival is again celebrated at dated July 6th but with the only presence of Binbin. In 1922, the family again complete takes again the three days rate/rhythm, the program of balls, contest of music and sport is supplemented by an offer of exposures of the friends of arts or company of horticulture. The inter-war period brings two innovations, the prolongation of the festivals until the day of July 14th (although the presence of the giants is limited to the three days traditional) and the creation of the procession of Sunday in carnavalesque form during which the mannequins open the procession instead of closing it like traditionally. The procession is however made difficult by the electrification of the streets. To allow the passage of the couple in spite of the electric wires, two new stations are created at the carriers, the “carrier of poles”, charged with raising wire when it is possible, and the “carriers of rocker”, charged to lean the mannequins so that they can pass below to the manner of a dancer of Limbo. Gradually the streets are arranged in order to eliminate these obstacles. The mention of the celebration of the entry of the French in the city also disappears from the programs during this period.

The Second world war leads to a new destruction and rupture in the rate/rhythm of the celebrations. In 1947, Binbin, rebuilt thanks to the perceived war damagees, reappears followed the following year of the wheel of fortune and gradually the family is reconstituted according to the plans of the Wallet painter in 1954. Since then the festivals of Gayant are held each year from June 30th to July 14th, in the same form.

Three days of the giants

The “festivals of Gayant” proceed over fifteen days but the paroxysm of the festival is during the three days when the giants are of exit. It is an significant event in the life of the city which is used to be located in the calendar, the year breaks up thus into “before Gayant” and “after Gayant”. To miss this celebration is inconceivable for a Resident of Douai. It is told that at the time of several seats carried out by the king of France, the Douai-native troops deserted the battle field time to attend the village fair.

The key of the procession: carriers of Gayant

; The family of the carriers of Gayant: At the end of the 19th century, the city called upon men resulting from the corporation of the portefaix (the trade prepared the body with the bearing) located street Bra. It is within this Corporation that was born “the family from the carriers of Gayant”. Recruitment is based on the blood ties, of father out of wire, principle extended today to the sons-in-law even exceptionally with the cousins. Today five to six families constitute the main part of the carriers. Recruitment is done at 18 years on a proposal from a relative then all his life it profits from the support of the carriers, of sound Mariage (guard of honor formed by all the carriers) with its burial (coffin carried by the six oldest carriers).

; Composition: Fifty six people of the family of the carriers of Gayant take part in the procession in the behavior traditionnelle : shirt white with collar opened, pants white, Espadrille S white (until 1950 since the tennis shoes replaced them), broad black belt (before out of flannel, today out of cotton) and a beret (until 1958). Each carrier has three behaviors to remain clean during the three days (the town hall pours an allowance of cleaning). The roles are distributed as follows :

twenty-three collectors with a leaded trunk, it acts of the station occupied by young people;
twenty-three carriers whose hierarchy is fastidious. There are in bottom of the scale the “substitute-carriers” (called “mask with mouques” because of their role to move away the children from the sight of the Chief of glasses), then the carriers where two higher categories prevail, the “Chief of glasses” (carrier which look through the attic window to guide his/her companions) and the “Sergeant” (the carrier who orders the back). The carriers are old from 35 to 60 years;
two “chiefs of protocol”, it acts of the highest station in the hierarchy, accessible only when one of the two stations is vacant. Their behavior is specific (Redingote black with long Basque S, white blouse, Bow tie and Haut-de-forme). Each chief of protocol is responsible for his group of giants (the couple on the one hand and children on the other hand) and of the carriers. He gives the starting signal, chooses the stops and gives the signal of the Rigodon S.

Sunday: the procession

At eight hours, the “Stupid one of the gunners”, carried by a man, and two drums announce the departure of the giants of their residence, street of Lambres, where during one year of many restorations were brought. The order of exit is codified, Gayant leaves the first follow-up his wife, of stupid of the gunners and the first drum. Follow then the three children by size, the second drum and finally the “Wheel of Fortune” drawn by draft a Horse and the carriers. The troop joined the court of the Town hall by borrowing the street of Paris by stopping every fifty meters in order to take its marks and to be refreshed with the cut coffee sprinkled with the juniper. Some let us rigodons are given for the notable ones and certain owners of coffee. At the time of the entry of the carriers in a bar, the giants are turned towards the entry of the establishment (only Binbin between sometimes).

At nine hours, the Carillon of the belfry sounds, announcing the arrival with the town hall. The three children enter the first follow-ups of the couple and stupid of the gunner, the wheel of fortune closing walk. The municipal team receives the carriers for annual photography then holds a speech at the city and offers champagne to the carriers. After a turn of the thirty minute old district, the giants return to carry out the ball made up of four dances. The drums assisted by the municipal brass band of Douai play the “Air of Gayant”. The couple carries out the first two dances (at the end of the first dances the giants place face in order to embrace itself), the third is by the children and the last by the five family members. A throw of delicacies and a take-off of pigeon close the morning spectacle.

At fifteen hours, the folk procession, whose course is a eight kilometers length, is opened by stupid gunners followed by the giants. The Barouche of the mayor follows then many troops to the manner of a procession of Carnaval ; among the permanent guests appear the Gilles de Binche. The giants return in their residence around 10 p.m.

Monday: the exit with the districts

Monday is one day particular, the children being separated from the parents. The two groups answer the requests of notable, mainly of the tenants, who bought the chart of Gayant during the year (the purchase of the chart does not guarantee of it the arrival but finance the meal of the whole of the family members of Gayant Tuesday evening of the re-entry).

At ten hours, Binbin, Fillon and Jacquot, accompanied by Stupid by gunner, begin their day in the court from the clinical Saint-Pierre where they dance for the patients.

At eleven hours, since 1990, the giant children join a district peripheral of the city (decision taken in June by the general meeting of the carriers and ratified by the festival committee of Douai) and carry out the turn of the district.

In the remainder of the city are held several contests of traditional plays like the Cockfight (often around sixteen hours), the Tir with the arc and the play of the balk.

Tuesday: the re-entry of Gayants

The day of Tuesday is free for the carriers and their giants, not of place or imposed district. They move with their own way but meet the evening in the court of the hotel of the Dolphin for the meal. After the meal, the way of the giants starts towards their residence, accompanied by the Gilles.

At 10 p.m., the giants are close to their residence but as from this moment a ceremonial regulated well démarre : the children of the giants refuse to return and devote themselves to several outward journeys and returns between their “residence” and the street. Gayant, his wife or the Stupid one of the gunners (even three unit) make outward journeys return to try to bring back the children who are supported by the population which beseeches them not to return. All the carriers take turns under the giants so that the re-entry lasts more the possible for a long time (if a child returned, it benefits from what his/her parents will seek the others to flee again). Binbin always returns the last, thorough by the carriers to prevent it from fleeing last once. It is usually between four and five hours when the door is closed again for one year.

Gayant and Douai

The Residents of Douai are frequently associated with these characters, they are sometimes called “wire (or grandson) of Gayant” or locally the “vint' of wicker” (bellies of wickers). This evidence of affection for their giants brought during the 20th century, the use of the giant like symbol of business firms then today of the agglomeration.

Gayant in the media

Present in literature since many years, is as characters principals (as during the 19th century at the time of the vagueness of tales, of parts of Théâtre and Poésie S which is devoted to him), that is to say as descriptive element of the Douai-native life (like “ the Research of the Absolute ” of Honore de Balzac, “ the Unknown Giant ” writes by Jean-Yves Loude, at the time of a residence of artist within the framework of the Gayant literary prize) then in the musical field (the “ Air of Gayant ” constituting the most known piece), the mannequins are little appeared on the small screen (background during the emission Intervilles or of Telethon) less still on the big screen (it appears in the film Mr Albert turned into 1975 of Jacques Renard, with Philippe Noiret).

Gayant and trade

The representation of the Gayant family members was especially used in a context Agroalimentaire.

the brewery field is that which resorted the most to it. The most known example is that of the Brasserie of Gayant (since 1919) although it is not the only brewery having resorted to the giant. The “Gayant Glass of bier” of the brewery Julien Saint, for example, date of 1882 and until in 1970, much of local breweries made limited series intended to be offered by the various coffees for the customers the day of the procession under the name of the “Half of Gayant”. This image related to the brewery is found until the name of the coffees of which most known is “At Binbin”.
the field of the sugar refineries is different the large user of the giant. The “gayantines” (they are candies) are the oldest speciality, there was also the flour “Fleur de Gayant” (disappeared today) inter alia things. The most recent creation is a meat cake called “shield of Gayant” of which it regains the shape. Of course, of the restaurants and bakeries bore the name of the giant, it remains today among these institutions the confectionery “greedy Gayant”.

Beside these uses, a tradition (disappeared today) made days of exit of Monday and Tuesday the only day of signature for the renewal or the stop of the beams of hirings.

The group Cofinoga proposed a version limited reserved to the Residents of Douai of its credit card lasting nearly one decade (1985-1995) under the name Carte Gayant on which the couple of giant was reproduced in front of the belfry.

Gayant, symbol of the agglomeration of Douai

Symbol of the city, the giant was always requested to appear at the time of great events (passage of the turn of France for example), it thus accommodated Louis XIV at his entry in Douai then of many Heads of State in official visit.

Beside this protocolar role, the whole of the family (in residence) or only Binbin (in displacement) a long time accompanied the brass band by Douai at the time of contest of harmony. This presence or absence of the giant is differently felt by the other brass bands. In 1808, the brass band of Valencian was inclined at the time of a contest of brass bands vis-a-vis that of Douai. The Residents of Valenciennes, estimating to have better played but that the dance of Binbin at the time of the Douai-native service had distorted the result, created their own Binbin (which is today always the giant of Valencians). In 1911, the brass band of Aniche creates the Kopierre giant to be avenged for the not-arrival of the giants with the brass band of Douai. Kopierre was celebrated on July 6th until Douai presents its excuses.

Since 1954, the town hall associates the Giants with the life of the city, there is a dramatizing of the events douaisiens : the children were civilly baptized, the couple receives the medal of the family regularly. Binbin has the chart n°1 public library of the children, Jacquot and Fillon are respectively n°1 and n°2 of the general public library. In 1991, for the reopening of the Faculty of Law of Douai, Binbin was the first student one registered (it still does not have its diploma). From now on the use of the giants exceeds the framework of the communication of the city to become that of the agglomération : the room of the congresses took the name of “Gayant expo”, the literary prize created in 2000 by the community of agglomeration has as a name “price of children's literature Gayant”, the panels of entry in the district comprises the mention “Douai, city of Gayant”.

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