"La Pequena Gigante"

This past week events in Guadalajara Centro have been described as surreal and while they may seem that way I would say they are more magical capturing the hearts and minds of over 3 million citizens.

Last Monday a wall “fell from heaven” embedding it’s self into the cobblestone street in front of the Teatro Degollado. The wall was painted with a mural similar to one by Diego Rivera telling the history of Mexico, but this mural included another story complete with giants.
Later on Tuesday the giants began to arrive in the city when a large block of ice containing the dog “El Xolo” appeared in the Plaza Santuario. Thursday evening riding into town on a bus from Morales was the “La Pequena Gigante” (Little Giant).

It was all produced by Royal de Luxe Company of France and was part of the ongoing celebrations of Mexican Independence and the Mexican Revolution.

The Little Giant was here to reunite with her uncle “El Campesino”. The legend on the wall tells how “El Campesino” heard Miguel Hidalgos’ cry for independence. But when he appeared before the rebel forces they feared he would kill Hidalgo and buried him in a hidden sarcophagus. Two centuries later “La Pequena Gigante” along with her dog "Xolo" are reunited with “El Campesino”

Before leaving town on Friday afternoon we were able to see where “La Pequena Gigante” had slept through the night after arriving in town and causing an accident that left vehicles overturned.



When we arrived around 1:3pm she was laying in the street snoring loudly. Many blocks down Avenida Alcade her dog “Xolo” was awake and ready to make the run to find his mistress and begin their journey together.



The two of them would stroll through town until they came upon the wall and the story it told of Mexico and "La Pequena Gigantes'" Uncle. That night they would sleep in front of the Teatro Degollda then go off in search of the sarcophagus containing “El Campesino” the next day.

The story and events pull you in as the giant marionettes come to life. And come to life they do, truly seeming alive through their actions and facial expressions complete with blinking eyes. When “Xolo” ran down the street he really ran, as any dog would looking for his mistress. And when he found “La Pequena Gigante” asleep he started to nudge her and lick her like a real dog would as if saying “ come on, get up, let’s go”.

When the claim is made that the events were surreal it had as much to do with the mass of people attending and the fact that many major streets that are always congested with traffic were going to be closed for days. And then to watch as “Xolo” woke from his block of ice and started to make his way to “La Pequena Gigante” breaking into a run as he got closer with thousands of people chasing in pursuit. All five of us included. It was the magic that pulled you in and you just felt you needed to be a part of the giants’ story.

Please check out YouTube for more videos of the Giants adventures in Guadalajara.