#capgrossos

[useless-catalanfacts]

In Catalan culture, some holidays are personified in a character. In Gràcia (a neighbourhood of Barcelona), Christmas starts with the arrival of Esperit de Nadal (Christmas Spirit) with his companions senyor Caneló d'Escudella i Bontorró ("Sir Escudella Cannelloni and Good-nougat", a parody of an artistocratic name referencing the traditional Catalan Christmas foods). Esperit de Nadal is a capgròs (big head figure, read more about them in this previous post).

They arrive at Gràcia and dance on the streets greeting the children, and at the end of the parade they do a dance that ends with removing Esperit de Nadal's hat, revealing a tiny Nativity scene on its head.

Video by Cultura Popular Barcelona.

[betrosla]

"Gegants i Capgrossos. Bar La Cooperativa". Blanes. Catalunya. 26/09/2020. Foto de Pepín.

[elpaisdellop]

Colla Capgrossos de Mataró

[xabieram]

La Nit del Museu MNAC Picasso -by XabierAM 2018

[photographeperpignan]

Fira del Bacallà de Mollet de Peralada

[useless-catalanfacts]

One of the figures in Catalan traditional festivities like festes majors are these big-headed characters. They are called different names depending on the area: cabeçuts, capgrossos, cabuts, cabets, caparrots, nanos or nanets. All these words derive from the concepts of "big head" or "short person", since that's their most iconic characteristic.

They're hollow paper-mache figures where the dancer puts their head in, and sees through the figure's mouth. They dance usually cheerful songs and greet the people who are watching, particularly children.

The figures can represent stereotypical people from the town (a school child, a rich man, a priest, a farmer, a heiress, etc), local historical or legendary people (nobles, pirates, etc), or just silly people. In some places, if someone from the town/city becomes famous or does something very good for the town, people can choose to make a capgròs that represents them.

If I'm not mistaken, this figures also exist in Basque culture, where they are called buruhandiak or kilikiliak (am I right, @beautiful-basque-country?)

Video by Agrupació de Balls Populars de Sitges taken in the national meet-up of cabeçuts from around Catalonia.

[photographeperpignan]

Fira del Bacallà de Mollet de Peralada

[le-journal-catalan]

Gegants d'Elna : Atelier capgrossos, une réussite !

Gegants d’Elna : Atelier capgrossos, une réussite !

« Quelle chouette idée, il me tardait lundi pour commencer ! », voilà les mots récurrents que les enfants avaient à la bouche, en ce premier jour des vacances d’octobre. Sous l’impulsion des « gegants d’Elna » et de l’association Traditions Catalanes, le projet de construction de capgrossos, incluant toutes les phases de fabrications, a vu le jour pour la première fois, sur notre territoire ! Il…

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