Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-04-27
GILES OF BlNCHE.
Their Carnival the Quaintest of BEL
gian Medieval Customs.

I
gian Medieval Customs.
New York Iribune.-The persistent
manner in which Belgians cling 10
their medieval festivals ana traditions
/ is characteristic national trait well
] known to those familiar with the Elem
ish AMI Waloon provinces. The sur
/ viyaI of such pOpu ar ie'es as that of
the carnival procession ct the dancing
! Giles at Binche attests the innate love
of Beleians for these picturesque YES
tjaes Of heir 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 IIainaut The
carnival OF Binche has always been
held in high repute by Belgians. but
without its GILES it would not be sub
stantially different from that Of Rome,
Nice and other owns
These Giles. or dancing men, who
form the glory OF the Binche carnival.
are characterized by their headdresses
and humps. The headdress is most
elaborate ami striking In shape it re-
sem0Ies the oid-time top hat of our
great-grandfa'hers. The hat is sur
mounted with magnificent ostrich
feathers from three to four feet in
length, which give to the wearers the
appearance OF giants. From each hat,
besides. aow several wide, yariegated
ribbons. while the Giles trousers are
hodeCked with trimmings Of real lace
and ribbons to match those of the har.
Every Gille wears a mask and a silk
belt, from which hang small bells.
The entire Giles outfit costs from
$40 $3.50, large sum for the peasant
youths generally selected by the car
nlya committee to fill the part of ac-
tors in the Mardi-Gras festivities. The
honor of being GiIle is so great
however, among the gay Lotharios of
Blnche, and carries such prestige with
the local damSels, that the young men
chosen by the committee are only too
pleased 10 make the financial sacrifice
demanded of them.
In the afternoon of Mardi-Gras the
Giles, in full uniform, two hundred
strong, preceded 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 annals of carnival re-
joicines. The GILES proceed by dane
Ing 10 the tune of the band just men,
toned. At every few steps they stop,
bend and unbend, to heighten the eff
feet of the ringing from the bells worn
at their belts. Their streamers fiat TO
and fro, and enyelop them in a rainbow
of ribbon. AT the same time the stimuli
taneous ringing of bells and humping
of wooden sabots on the cobblestones
sound like the echo of a cavalry
charge.
The GILES have each a straw basket
hanging to one side from the belt,
and filled with oranges. With them
they lombard the spectators as they
dance along. AS soon as emptied, the
baskets are flied again by men from
behind, appointed for this duty. A gen
eral battle Of oranges then takes place
between the Giles and the carnival
merrymaiers. Finally the procession
reaches the town hall, in front of
which, seated OH platform, is the
mayor. surrounded by the municipal
officials. The GILES then terminate
the days festivities by a general war
dance, giving a prolonged exhibition OF
their capabilities. The public likewise
! joins in the fun and soon some 5000
! persons-men, women and children
may be seen gayly Waiting around the
Grando Place. The sight of an entire
population, dressed in carnival cos
! tune, and masked, dancing in the open
air to the music of the Giles brass
band is one not easily forgotten. The
dancing continues until the late even
ing when the sport is brought to an
ed by the mayor, who formally awards
a gold medal to the Gille who has
proved himself the most expert dancer.