The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-04-27
THE GILES OF elNcAE.
their Carnival the Quaintest OF Bel.
Eian MetliaeVal Customs.

their Carnival the Qaaintest OF Rel.
Eian AiediaeVRl Customs.
The persistent manner in which Bel
gians cling TO their mediaeyal festivals
and traditions is characteristic ma.
tional trait well known TO those famil-
lar with the Flemish and Walloon
provinces. The survival OF such popu-
lar fetes as that of the carnival pro-
cession Of the dsHcing GILES at Binchs
attests the innate love of Belgians for
these picturesque vestiges Of their fore
fathers civilization.
The festival Of the dancing Giles OF
Binehe is in many respects the quaint
est of these popular customs. This fes-
tival takes place on Mardi Gras at the
Binche, a town Of Hainaut. The car
nival Of Binche has always been held
In high repute by Belgians, but with.
out its GILES It would not be substan-
tally different from that of Rome. Nice
and other towns,
These GILES, or dancing men, who
form the glory OF the Binche carnival,
are characterized by their headdrosses
and humps. The headdress Is most
elaborate and striking, In shape 1t re-
sembles the old time top hat Of our
great.grandfathers, The hat Is sur
mounted with magnificent ostrich feath'
ers from three to four feet in length,
which give to the wearers the appear
ance of giants. From each hat be-
sides, fiow several wide, variegated rib
bons, while the Giles trousers are be
iecked with trimmings Of real lace and
ribbons to match those of the hat Ev-
cry Gille wears mask and silk belt,
from which hang small bells.
The entire GILES outfit costs from
$40 to $50, large sum for the peasant
youths, generally selected BY the car
nival committee to ill the part Of ae'
tors in the Mardl Gras festivities. The
honor Of being Gille is SO great, how
ever, among the gay Lotharios Of
Binche and carries such prestige with
She local damsels that the young men
chosen by the committee are only too
pleased to make the financial sacrifice
demanded of them.
In the afternoon OF Mardi Gras the
Giles, in full uniform, 200 strong, pre-
ceded by the local brass bands and
musical clubs. appear in procession and
march toward the Grande place. The
sight thus offered is unique In the an
nails Of carnival rejoieings. The GILES
proceed by dancing to the tune Of the
band just mentioned. At every few
steps they stop, bend and unbend, to
heighten the effect of the ringing from
the bells worn at their belts Their
streamers float TO and fro and envelop
them In a rainbow OF ribbon. Al the
same time the simultaneous ringing of
bells and humping Of wooden sabots
on the cobblestones sound likxhe echo
Of cavalry charge.
The Giles have each straw basket
hanging to one side from the belt and
filed with oranges. With these they
lombard the spectators as they dance
along. As soon as emptied the bas-
kets are filled again by men from be-
hind, appointed for this duty. A gen
eral battle Of oranges then takes place
between me Giles and the carnival
merrymakers. Finally the procession
reaches the town hall, in front OF
which, scared on platform, is the
mayor. surrSunded by the munIclpal
officials. The Giles then terminate the
days festivities by a general war
dance. giving a prolonged exhibition OF
their capabilities. The public likewise
loins In the fun. and soon some 300
persons, meh women and children. may
be seen gayly waltzing around the
Grande place The sight Of an cnts.'
population dressed in carnival costum,
and masked dancing I'm the open MIR t.
the music OF the Giles brass band L.
one not easily forgotten. The danc!nI
continues until the late evening, whc.
the sport is brought to an end by the
mayor, who formally awards a goli
y,,oJoI IN tho Gfiln who hoS nrOye1 him