Effigy facts for kids

An effigy is like a statue or a model of a person. It's usually made to look like someone specific. These models are often created from materials like stone, metal, or even wax.

Effigies are commonly found in art, especially when people want to remember someone who has passed away. You might see them placed on top of a tomb or grave. They help us remember important people from history.

What is an Effigy?

An effigy is a three-dimensional artwork that shows a person. It can be a full body or just a head. Artists make them to look very much like the person they represent.

Sometimes, effigies are used to honor famous people. Other times, they are part of special events or traditions. They can be very old, dating back hundreds of years.

Effigies in History

For a long time, people have used effigies to remember the dead. In Europe, especially during the Middle Ages, knights and nobles often had effigies on their tombs. These statues showed them in their armor or fine clothes.

One famous example is the effigy of William Marshal in Temple Church, London. He was a very important knight in England. His effigy helps us imagine what he looked like long ago.

Funeral effigies were also used in royal funerals. These were models of the deceased, sometimes dressed in their real clothes. They were carried in processions to show respect.

Effigies in Festivals

Not all effigies are for remembering the dead. Some are made for festivals and celebrations. These effigies are often burned as part of a tradition.

In some cultures, burning an effigy can symbolize getting rid of bad luck or celebrating the end of a season. It's a way to mark a new beginning.

Famous Festival Effigies

One well-known example is the Guy Fawkes effigy in the United Kingdom. Every November 5th, children make "Guys" and ask for "a penny for the Guy." Later, these effigies are burned on bonfires. This celebrates the failure of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605.

Another famous burning effigy is "The Man" at the Burning Man festival in Nevada, United States. Every year, a giant wooden effigy of a man is built and then burned. This is a big part of the festival's closing ceremony.

In Poland, people burn effigies of Marzanna, an ancient goddess. This tradition happens in spring to welcome warmer weather and say goodbye to winter.

Images for kids

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  Effigy of Ravana, a figure from the Ramayana, with burning sparklers, in Manchester, England in 2006

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  Double tomb effigies or gisants, Josselin, France, 15th century

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  The funeral effigy (without clothes) of Elizabeth of York, mother of King Henry VIII, 1503, Westminster Abbey

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  A rare wax funerary effigy of a private person, who stipulated it be made in her will, England, 1744. Holy Trinity Church, Stow Bardolph, Norfolk.

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  "Grand Rababou" (from the French word rababouêt, or wood thief) is burnt annually in the carnival of Fribourg, Switzerland

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  Modern Marzanna (goddess) effigy, Poland

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  Welsh children with their Guy Fawkes effigy in November 1962. The sign reads "Penny for the Guy".

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  Every year The Man is burned at the Burning Man festival, Nevada

See also

In Spanish: Efigie para niños