Majigangga
Lanterns aren’t the only giants of the Kapampángan Christmas; there are giant Christmas puppets as well! Every December 28, the town of Santa Ana, Pampanga parades these scary-looking giant puppets that represent the evils of the world that are banished during the Christmas season.
MAJIGÁNGGA • (muh-hi-GAHNG-guh)
Kapampángan giant Christmas puppets of Santa Ana, Pampanga
MAJIGANGGA
Majiganggas are Kapampángan giant Christmas puppets made from bamboo sticks and steel wires wrapped with colorful cloth sheets and topped with paper maché heads. They can reach up to 10 feet in height and may require two people to operate. They are said to represent the evil warded off during Christmas.
Etymology and Origins from Mexico’s mojigangas
Majigángga comes from the Spanish word mojiganga, which means “farce, piece of clowning; masquerade”, and also refers to giant puppets used as grand scale design elements for large events in Mexico, from where Kapampángans adopted the tradition. Only the Kapampángan town of Sta. Ana still practices this tradition.
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