Hats off to the costumes.
With the parade of the 'Guises', Brittany shows off the glory former of its
costumes. Proudly displaying their headdresses and hats, waistcoats,
pinafores and clogs, the celtic circles (bagads and dancers) from all over
the region compete in splendour infront of their contemporaries under the
charm of the past. From Fouesnant to Concarneau, Lorient to Landivisiau, 56
towns and villages offer a lesson in regional history.Each item of
clothing represents an identity through its shapes and characteristics,
allowing the trained eye to pinpoint its town of origin. Set in place on
the women`s heads, 'bigouden' headdresses standing to a height of 35cm
speak of pride and religion : the story goes back to the reaction to the
french Revolution which lead to the church towers being pulled down. The
women from the bigouden region responded by disproportionately heightening
their headdresses which became a symbol of the towers which had
dissappeared. With the 'Guises', its the breton pride which is being
paraded.
