Francisco: the giant reporter of Calais

They're recognisable at a glance. Crowds gather to cheer their towering silhouettes. The giants are part of the local heritage and delight every generation at popular gatherings: carnivals, balls, parades, commemorations, and more. Whether fictional or real, these emblematic figures from northern France and Belgium each have their own identity. They represent a place and are the pride and folklore of a region, a town or a neighbourhood. From Flanders to Picardy and on into Belgium, there are more than 2,000 giants. Yet they're hard to count, since this is living heritage: giants disappear and new ones appear every year. In this article, let's discover one of the newest additions to the family of Opal Coast giants: Francisco, the giant reporter of Calais.

The giants of the north, a tradition nearly 500 years old

This tradition of the giants goes back a long way! The earliest accounts describing them date from the Middle Ages. Giants tell a story, represent a trade, or embody a historical or legendary figure. Behind the birth of every giant is always the wish of a group of people to keep a custom alive or revive one, but above all to strengthen a local identity.
A giant is built around a wooden frame, with a body traditionally made of wicker. They're made by a giant-maker, who is at once sculptor, tailor, cabinetmaker, basket weaver and, above all, a great enthusiast for these extraordinary figures.
A carrier stands inside the giant and makes it dance, spin and come to life during parades and processions, sharing their enthusiasm with the crowds who've come to cheer on the local emblem.

Francisco, reporter of Calais

• height: 3.70 m;
• weight: 55 kg;
• date of christening: 15 September 2019 in Calais;
• name: Francisco.

Since July 2022, Francisco has had an adopted son, Pierre-Louis

Born of the dream and passion of a young man from Calais, Francisco the reporter is the newest member of the great family of Opal Coast giants. François Merieult's imagination and enthusiasm never once flagged. It took him 10 years to see his giant Francisco parade through the place d'Armes in Calais and be christened with great pomp, surrounded by 50 French and Belgian giants who came specially for the occasion. Dressed in blue and red, wearing the town's coat of arms as well as Calais lace, Francisco proudly sports the colours of the town he represents. Camera in hand, Francisco is the image of his creator, who spent many years filming and photographing the world of giants he's so passionate about.

Where and when to see Francisco the reporter

Francisco featured in a riddle on the TV programme “Carte aux trésors ” in July 2023.

He'll be waiting for you at his 5th anniversary, on the weekend of
14 and 15 September 2024, for a big celebration, with no fewer than 20 giants joining the event on the forecourt of the Calais theatre.

📌Follow all the latest on Francisco le reporter on his Facebook page

The other giants of the Opal Coast and Flanders

• Flipp and Zabeth, the giants of Berck-sur-Mer

They represent a sailor and a lugworm digger. The lugworm digger's job was to dig for sea worms in the sand to use as bait for fishing.

• Batisse and Zabelle, the giants of Boulogne-sur-Mer

This fishing couple, representing France's leading fishing port, celebrated their 100th anniversary in August 2023.

• Reuze Papa and Reuze Maman

Representing and protecting the town of Cassel, Reuze Papa wears a Roman breastplate and is accompanied by his wife, Reuze Maman. Reuze means giant in Flemish.

• Clément, the mussel seller of Calais
• Jehan de Calais, the fearless privateer, and his wife, Constance du Portugal

Next time you come to a carnival or other town fair, you'll never look at these gigantic figures the same way again — figures that are the pride of a whole team and that will bring back your childhood sense of wonder. Watching the giants parade by is, above all, a chance to enjoy a special moment with family or friends. It's a chance to soak up the festive atmosphere so typical of the Opal Coast and our Hauts-de-France region. And, finally, it's a way of celebrating a figure that connects us to our past and our history, through the living testimony these protective giants pass down from one generation to the next.