| Julius Caesar seems to have been the first
to report meeting Giants in Britain; See De Bello Gallico
- Liber VI, C XVI J. A. Thwaites
translates his words thus: "They (the British) enclose
their victims in wickers of osier and burn them at the tops of
giant men." Who were the giant men in question? Well,
there is some doubt, they might have been great hill-figures
like the Cerne Giant or the Long Man of Wilmington, they may
alternatively have been some sort of sacrificial green man, or
they might have been... Oh well, speculation is useless, but
that Albion was indeed the land of Giants, is confirmed.
'Dancing', or 'Pageant' Giants were recorded in Europe by the
14th century. One of the first known in Britain; Christopher the
Salisbury Giant; still survives. Once the Giant of the Tailors'
Guild, he stands in the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum,
his exact age is unknown, but there exists a repair bill dated
1570.
The City of London has a long history of Giants, notably 'Gog'
and 'Magog' who stood in honour in the Guildhall and who were
charged with the defence of the city.
Probably most towns had their civic cohort of Giants, at one
time Chester boasted four. Their demise is scarcely recorded but
it's likely that the Commonwealth finally extinguished any that
survived the Reformation. A number of close relatives of
giantkind did survive: Jack in the Green, hobby horses, morris
dancing beasts, and darker figures, such as the Dorset Ooser,
Skimmities and Mari Llwyd. Many of these, and Giants too, are
associated with bands of 'rough musicians' disguisers, and even
witchcraft.
Whilst British Giants went into decline, those in the larger
world have thrived. There are Giants in virtually all European
countries, the former USSR, Latin America, India, and similar
forms exist in much of Asia.
Giants are bigger than any of us, they are not just moving
statues, they are a focal point, some are warriors proclaiming
defiance in the face of a hostile world, others dignitaries
carrying a burden of civic pride, but most, including most of
the foregoing, are never happier than when at a party, festival
or fair. They are one and all exuberant symbols of the vital
forces and mankind's joy in living.
Now British giants are starting to make a come back with Kent
alone gaining 7 since 2002 with more planned in the future. |
