Gilles

The festival day

Celebrations begin at four in the morning on Shrove Tuesday. About one thousand male participants, from three-year-old boys to grown men, step into the streets and move to the rhythm of traditional songs. During the morning hours, each Gille covers his face with an identical wax mask. After walking to the town hall, the dancers remove these masks for the rest of the day. In the afternoon procession, they put on tall hats covered in white plumes, carry wicker baskets, and throw blood oranges into the gathering crowds, keeping up their steps until late into the night.

Costume and adornments

The outfit of a Gille is instantly recognisable. Tailored from linen cloth, the suit displays heraldic designs in red, yellow, and black, reflecting the colours of the Belgian flag. Bands of wide white lace trim the cuffs and wide collar. Underneath the fabric, padding made of straw gives the dancer a rounded, hunched silhouette. Dancers wear carved wooden clogs on their feet and strap small bells around their waists to chime as they move. They also hold ramons, small bundles of bound twigs used to ward off evil spirits.

Origins and legends

The earliest written record of the Gilles dates to 1795, when local revolutionary authorities attempted to ban the wearing of masks. Several stories attempt to explain where the custom began. One popular tale links the figures to Mary of Hungary, who governed the Low Countries in 1549 and staged a grand entry in Brussels for Charles V of Spain. That theory suggests the feathered headdresses drew inspiration from Inca clothing. Another explanation traces the look, hunched back, and name to commedia dell'arte stock characters such as Pulcinella or Pierrot, adapted over time with regional elements like wooden clogs.

Beyond Binche

While Binche holds the most renowned celebration, recognised in 2003 by UNESCO as a masterpiece of intangible cultural heritage, the custom thrives elsewhere. Several other towns in the region maintain their own Gille societies and carnival appearances. Communities such as Nivelles, Charleroi, La Louvière, Le Roeulx, Morlanwelz, and Seneffe also bring costumed Gilles into their annual festivities, keeping the distinct music, dancing, and rhythmic clog steps alive across the province.

How Gilles is kept

On Shrove Tuesday, around a thousand male participants dress in straw-padded linen suits, lace collars, bells, and wooden clogs. Starting at four in the morning, they dance through town to traditional melodies while wearing identical wax masks. In the afternoon, after visiting the town hall, they remove the masks, put on towering white feathered hats, and march in a parade while throwing blood oranges from baskets into the crowd.

When and where

The tradition takes place once a year on Shrove Tuesday, beginning at four in the morning and continuing until late at night. The exact date shifts annually according to the Christian liturgical calendar.

The custom belongs to Belgium, centered in the town of Binche. Similar Gille processions also take place during carnival in neighbouring towns such as Nivelles, Charleroi, and La Louvière.

What Gilles means

The bundle of twigs carried by each Gille, known as a ramon, is traditionally used to drive away harmful spirits. The stuffing of straw creates a hunched silhouette, while the suit's red, yellow, and black heraldic motifs display the national colours of Belgium.

Days Gilles is marked

Questions people ask about Gilles

See also

Festivity of Saint BlaiseAn annual patron saint festival in Dubrovnik with processions, relics and dovesMeyboomAn annual Brussels parade and ceremonial tree planting held every AugustCandlemasA Christian feast of candle blessings marking the end of the Christmas seasonMid-Autumn FestivalAn annual harvest festival celebrating family reunions, full moons and mooncakes

Good reading and sources

• Gilles on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.