No festival or celebration is held in Catalonia without Gegants i capgrossos, the parade of the Giants.
There are several theories about the origin of these gigantic figures and processions. Some historians credit this tradition to a religious background, as we in the Bible there are figures considered giants, such a Goliath or even San Christrofer.
Others, however, believe in their pagan origin. They hypothiye that these giants represent Christians and Arab knights fighting between each other, referring to the eternal fight between the two civilizations during Middle Ages.
Whatever its initial origin is, the giant and gygantic heads are part of the Catalan most deep traditions and they are always present at the main Catalan Festivals.
The Giants of Barcelona
City Giants are representing the King James I, and Queen Violant of Hungary, in honor and memory of the local monarchy in Catalonia of the Middle Ages.
Together with the Barcelona Eagle Giant, symbol of the power of the city, they are a very important part of the Popular Parades of the city of Barcelona.
Other that these there are also the Gygantic heads, the historic city Bestiarious (various animals and beasts), as well as the Giants of El Pi and Santa Maria del Mar.
Current giant’s figures date from 1992, and were made by the artist Manel Casserres and Boix.