<o:p> GIANTS and GIGANTILLAS of ZAMORA WELCOME The myth of the Giants is particularly old. Present in most of the religions of the ancient world, it didn’t disappear until the 19th century. The giants are also a very old festive element <o:p></o:p>
The meaning of these monumental and bizarre figures has been associated with the heresy, the pride, the power, the sin...... really with the Evil who escapes if the Blessed Sacrament comes in. His symbolism is agreed in most of the Spanish cities: kings, races, towns or nations, that have been interpreted like expression of the Catholic Church. <o:p></o:p>
The first time that the giants marched past in Zamora Corpus Christi procession was in 1593. Then the City council and the Cathedral Chapter decided to pay both of them the expenses of this procession. This decision broken in some occasions, stayed up to 1768, when D.Antonio Jorge and Galban Bishop prohibited its exit. After the Episcopal censure the City council was the owner of the Giants, and of course he took care of them. <o:p></o:p>
Constructed with fleeting materials (carton and wood), so it was necessary to renew them in several occasions. We know that at least they became new in 1696, 1733, 1840, 1885, 1954, 1977 and 1996. <o:p></o:p>
The zamoranos Giants always were four, and possibly in the 17th century they were called with the names of: The TURK, the BLACK, the ESPANISH MAN or GRANDFATHER and the RAMON. These four personages are representative the four parts of the world: <st1:place>Asia</st1:place>, <st1:place>Africa</st1:place>, <st1:place>Europe</st1:place> and <st1:country-region><st1:place>America</st1:place></st1:country-region>, respectively. <o:p></o:p>
The Giants traditionally marched past the day before Corpus, in this day and his Eighth. Its popular and cheer presence always was accompanied with a flute and a small drum, whose notes were danced. <o:p></o:p>
Texts: of Jose Andres Casquero Fernandez of the book the GIANTS Of CORPUS ZAMORANO . </o:p>
