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Gianduja
The origins, history and traditions of Turin's symbol
Piedmont's most important figure symbol was created in 1798 by master puppeteer Gian Battista Sales who had been so successful with his puppet Giròni. He had to change the character's name however because of the possible anti-Bonaparte allusions to Emperor Napoleon's brother Gerolamo (Giròni in the Piedmontese dialect).
A year later Sales discovered a person called Giöan d'la douja - a nickname he had earned because he always asked for a jug (douja in Piedmontese) of wine at every tavern he entered - at Callianetto, a hamlet on the pleasant Asti hills where the famous ciabot or hut stands.
Giöan d'la douja was an easy-going, open-hearted, witty and shrewd pleasant with a hale and hearty face who wore a violet doublet and corduroy trousers and sported a three-cornered hat with a red tape on its little upright tail
He name was soon shortened to Gianduja and changed from being a successful puppet into the character symbol of Turin in no time at all.
So Gianduja is the cheerful gentleman, full of common-sense and pluck, who appreciates good eating and drinking; he's the popular character always present at many Turin events. His companion is Giacometta.
The character is represented by two Giandujas at Turin nowadays: one chosen annually by the Council of the Famija Turineisa and the other interpreted by the president of the Associassion Piemonteisa. Both associations are committed to offering the town the character of Gianduja as a synonym of fun and laughter. In 1957 Associassion Piemonteisa president also created the Company for Popular Traditions of the Town of Turin, which he still manages to this day. The show consists of traditional songs, music and dances (jigs, Monferrinas and corretis) of our Piedmont and has been presented at the main national and international Festivals to honour the name of our Town and Region.
Every since 1971 Associassion Piemonteisa has also sponsored the resumption of the celebrations for Saint John, the Patron Saint of Turin on June 24 each year.
