Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-05-16
QUAINT BELGIAN REVIVAL.
The Carnival of the Dancing Gilles OF
Binche.

The Carnival of the Dancing Olllee OF
Binche.
The persistent manner in which Bel
gians cling to their m0diaeval festivals
and traditions is characteristic ma
tional trait well known to those ia
miliar with the Flemish and Walloon
provinces, says the Detroit Free Press.
The survival of such popular fetes as
that of the carnival procession Of the
dancing giles at Binche attests the
innate love Of Belgians for these pic
turesque vestiges of their forefathers'
civilization.
The festival of the dancing giles OF
Binche is in many respects the quaint
est of these popular customs. This
festival takes place on Mardi Gras at
the Binche, a town of Rainaut. The
carnival of Binche has always been
held in high repute by Belgians, but
without it's giles it would not be sub
stantially 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 head-dresses
and humps. The head-dress is most
elaborate and striking. In shape it re-
sembles the old-time top hat of our
great-grandfathers. The hat is sur
mounted with magnificent ostrich
feathers from three to four feet in
length, which gives to the wearers the
appearance of giants. From each hat,
besides, flow several wide, variegated
ribbons, while the giles trousers are
bedecked with trimmings of real lace
and ribbons to match those of the hat.
Every gille wears a mask and silk
belt, from which hang small bells.
The entire giles outfit costs from
$40 to $50, large sum for the peas
ant youths, generally selected by the
carnival committee to fill the part of
actors in the Mardi Gras festivities.
The honor of being a gille is so great,
however, among the gay Lotharios Of
Bincho, and carries such prestige with
the 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-
coded by the local brass bands and
musical clubs, appear in procession and
march toward the Grande place.
The giles have each straw basket
hanging to one side of the belt and
filled with oranges. With these they
lombard the spectators as they dance
along AS soon as emptied the baskets
are filled again by men from behind,
appointed for this duty. A general
battle of oranges takes place between
the giles and the carnival merryZnak-
ers.
Finally the procession reaches the
town hall, in front of which, seated on
a platform, Is the Mayor, surrounded
by the municipal officials. The giles
then terminate the days festivities by
a general war dance, giving a pro-
longed exhibition Of their capabilities.
The public likewise joins in the fun,
and soon some 5000 persons-men, wo.
men and children-may be seen gayiy
waltzing around the Grande place
The sight of an entire population
dressed in carnival costume and mask
ed dancing in the open air to the music
Of the giles brass band is not one
easily forgotten. The dancing contin-
ues until the late evening, when the
sport is brought to an end by the
Mayor, who formally awards a gold
watch to the gille who has proved him.
self the most expert dancer.