Constanza Sánchez
Alcalá de Henares has celebrated 500 years of its Giants and Big Heads parade, the third oldest in Spain, and they have done so with a great giant gathering, with 40 giants from eight different locations.
In this event, which has managed to attract hundreds of families, the parades from Torrejón de Ardoz, Pozuelo de Alarcón, San José de Valderas (Alcorcón), Galapagar, and San Lorenzo de El Escorial have participated, as well as other municipalities outside of the Community of Madrid, such as Guadalajara or Miranda de Ebro (Burgos).
The documented presence of giants that did not represent religious characters in the city of Alcalá dates back to at least 1525, only surpassed by those of Toledo, from 1493, and those of Seville, from 1500, as explained to EFE by the official chronicler of Alcalá, Vicente Sánchez Moltó.
National gathering of giants and big heads in Alcalá de Henares
According to this giant expert, they initially paraded during the Corpus Christi procession. «In 1780, King Carlos III prohibited the presence of giants in this celebration, and for some years they were completely suspended,» he added.
In the specific case of Alcalá, the parade was recovered in 1902, «but no longer within the context of a religious procession, but in a playful and festive context such as the August fairs,» specified Sánchez Moltó.
The parade has experienced significant growth since then. Although it started with two Cervantes characters, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, among the most recognized characters now are Cervantes, Dulcinea, the dukes, and the bachelor.
‘It is known’ that in Alcalá they exhibit all their municipal proclamations since the 18th century
This giant gathering, which Alcalá has not organized since 2002, is one of the first events of this 500th anniversary of the parade, to which they will add an exhibition, publications, recognitions, or restorations, in collaboration with various city councils, as indicated by the City Council.
AUTOR