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EveryParampara

Traditions of Binche

A small town in Belgium whose Shrove Tuesday carnival of Gilles in ostrich feathers is a UNESCO masterpiece.

Binche is a small town with a Carnival that goes back at least five centuries. On Shrove Tuesday, hundreds of men called Gilles dance through the streets in tunics decorated with lions and wearing tall hats of ostrich feathers. They throw oranges to the crowd as a gift.

Binche
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Gilles of Binche

The Gilles begin at dawn, with drums and the sound of clogs, and in the afternoon they put on their great feather hats, which weigh several kilos. They dance a bouncing step, called the Gille step, in time to the drums. The blood oranges thrown to the crowd are a sign of friendship and are not to be thrown back.

At the table

A Belgian Carnival meal includes waffles, cake and Belgian beer. Local specialities include doughnuts, boudin, and a dish of potato and cheese called tarte au stofé. Chocolate from nearby artisans is given as a gift. Carnival is followed by Lent and by Easter eggs.

Signature traditions of Binche

Carnival of BincheThe carnival.GillesThe dancers.

Also part of it, and being written: Belgian waffle (The waffle.).

A trail idea for Binche

  1. Carnival Museum See feathers and costumes.
  2. Grand-Place Join the Shrove Tuesday crowds.
  3. Old ramparts Walk the walls.
About this page

Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

KindSpiritualFestivalRite of passageTable customSeasonalDressPerformanceEtiquetteCraftGameFolkloreHomeCeremony
MealBreakfastLunchDinnerSupperTea-time and snacking customsTea, coffee and drinking ceremoniesSweets given and sharedFeasts and festival mealsFasting and breaking the fast
🇺🇸 New Orleans, United States and 5 moreMardi Gras A festive day of parades and rich foods marking the final celebration before the Christian fasting season of Lent beginsFestival 🇧🇪 Binche, BelgiumCarnival of BincheCarnaval de Binche A Belgian pre-Lenten festival known for masked dancers and orange tossingFestival 🇧🇪 Binche, BelgiumGillesGille Costumed carnival figures of Binche and surrounding Belgian townsFestival

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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