Les Gilles date back to 1795 in documented records but speculation suggests they may go back as far as the mid-1500s when they were thought to have been part of a ‘Joyous Welcome’ to Brussels for Charles V, the King of Spain.
Today, they are the renowned characters of the Binche Carnival, an annual spectacle that takes place on Shrove Tuesday each year and has been celebrated for the past 600 years. Les Gilles start at 4am and go through until the late hours, dancing to traditional
songs as they parade the streets of their locality. In 2003, the Binche Carnival was named by UNESCO as the ‘Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity’.
Les Gilles wear spectacular costumes consisting of a linen suit featuring heraldic designs in the colours of the Belgian flag, with a frilly white lace collar and cuffs. Their suits are stuffed with straw to give them the appearance of a barrel chest & a hunched
back and they wear bells attached to their belt. On their heads they wear either, a white cotton skull cap or a large white Ostrich Plume headpiece that stands up to 90 centimetres tall and can weigh up to 3kg! These extravagant outfits are thought to be homage
to the inca-inspired costumes worn by those attending the ‘Joyous Welcome’ back in the 16th century. Local touches have subsequently been added to include the wooden clogs that add to the stompy dance they perform.
Les Gilles carry a ‘Ramon’ which is a bunch of dry willow twigs bound together with rattan, to ward off evil spirits or a wicker basket containing oranges, which are thrown to the crowd as they pass by. This tradition hails back to a time when oranges were
considered a luxury item symbolising wealth and abundance. Today, this gesture is symbolic of generosity and good luck; they are something of a gift from les Gilles and to throw one back is not only considered bad luck but is seen as a grave insult.
These stars of Belgian folklore are not exclusive to Binche but can be found in many other
towns across the Walloon Region. They may all have their own local traditions or unique twists to their costumes; however, one thing is for sure, they certainly are a memorable sight.
