Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-05-06
QUAINT BELGIAN REVIVAL.
The Carnival of the Dancing GILES Of
Binche.

The persistent manner In which Bel
CLANS cling to their me,liaeval festivals
and traditions Is a characteristic ma
tional trait we'll known to those IA
miliar with the Flemish and Walloon
provinces. says the Detroit Free Press.
The survival Of such popular fetes 40
that OF the carnival procession Of the
dancing giles at Binche attests the
innate love OF Bclgians for these pic
turesque vestiges Of their forefathers'
civilization.
The festival OF the dancing giles Of
Binche IL In many respects the quaint
est OF these popular customs. This
festival takes place on Mardi Gras ut
the Binche. n town Of Huinaut The
carnival of Binche has always been
held In high repute by Belgians, but
without its GILES II would not be sub.
stantially different from that of Rome,
Nice ana other towns.
These GILES. or dancing men. who
form the glory of the Binche carnival,
are aracterized by their head-dresses
and humps. The hcad-drcss Is most
elaborate AMI striking. In shape it re-.
sembles the Old-time top hat Of our
great-grandfathcrs 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. varlegated
ri vx,lli hn ,rtl I'm
bcdccked with trimmings of real lace
and ribbons to match those of the hat.
Every glllc wears a mask ana silk
belt. from which hang small bells.
The entire giles outfit costs from
$40 to $50, a large sum for the peas.
ant youths. generally selected by the
carnival committee to I'LL the part Of
actors In the Mardi Gras festivities.
The honor of being gile IL so great,
however, among the gay I.othariOs 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 us they dance
along. AS soon rs empticd the baskets
are filed again by men from behind,
appointed for this duty. A general
battle Of oranges takes place between
the giles ana the carnival mcrrymak-
ers.
Finally the procession reaches the
town hall, In front of which, seated on
a platform, Is the Mayor, surrounded
then terminate the days festivities by
a general war dance, giving Il 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 gayly
waltzing around the Grande place.
The sight of an entire popula tion
dressed In carnival costume and ma SIX
ell 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.