| Carnival of Binche Carnaval de Binche | |
|---|---|
 TheGilles, clad in their costumes and wax masks, wielding sticks used to ward off spirits | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Carnival |
| Dates | Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday precedingAsh Wednesday |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location | Binche |
| Country | Belgium |
| Carnival of Binche | |
|---|---|
| Country | Belgium |
| Reference | 00033 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2008 (3rd session) |
| List | Representative |
TheCarnival of Binche (French:Carnaval de Binche) is an annual festival held inBinche,Hainaut, Belgium, during the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday precedingAsh Wednesday.[1]
The carnival's history dates back to approximately the 14th century,[2] and it is today one of the best known of several that take place simultaneously inWallonia, Belgium. Performers known asGilles wear elaborate costumes in thenational colours of red, black and yellow. During the parade, they throworanges at the crowd.[2][3][4]
Since 2003, the event has been recognised as aMasterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity byUNESCO,[3] and it is also listed asintangible heritage of theFrench Community of Belgium.[5]
The first written records of the Carnival of Binche date back to 1394, the festivities then corresponding to the beginning ofLent (the 40 days betweenAsh Wednesday andEaster).[2]
Wearing a mask was forbidden under theNapoleonic regime, so theGilles, some of the carnival's most important participants today, appeared for the first time in texts in 1795 as masked characters revolting.[6]
In 2003, the Carnival of Binche was recognised as one of theMasterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity byUNESCO,[3] and in 2004, asintangible heritage of theFrench Community of Belgium.[5]
Events related to the carnival begin up to seven weeks prior to the primary celebrations. Street performances and public displays traditionally occur on the Sundays approachingAsh Wednesday, consisting of prescribed musical acts, dancing, andmarching. Large numbers of Binche's inhabitants spend the Sunday directly prior to Ash Wednesday in costume.[2]
The centrepiece of the carnival's proceedings are clown-like performers known asGilles. Appearing, for the most part, onShrove Tuesday (orMardi Gras),[7] the Gilles are characterised by their vibrant dress, wax masks and wooden footwear.[1] They number up to 1,000 at any given time, range in age from 3 to 60 years old, and are customarily male. The honour of being a Gille at the carnival is something that is aspired to by local men.[1]
From dawn on the morning of the carnival's final day, Gilles appear in the centre of Binche, to dance to the sound of drums and ward off evil spirits with sticks.[3] Later during the day, they don large hats adorned withostrich feathers, which can cost more than $300US dollars to rent,[8] and march through the town with baskets of oranges. These oranges are thrown to,[2] and sometimes at,[3][4] members of the crowd gathered to view the procession.[a] The vigour and longevity of the orange-throwing event has in the past caused damage to property – some residents choose to seal windows to prevent this.[4] The oranges are considered good luck because they are a gift from the Gilles and it is an insult to throw them back.
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