At Belgium’s Carnival of Binche, the Gilles throw oranges to the crowd.
The Gilles are the carnival’s best-known masked participants. On Shrove Tuesday, they parade through Binche in padded costumes decorated in red, yellow, and black, often wearing wooden clogs, bells, wax masks, and large hats topped with ostrich feathers.
During the afternoon procession, Gilles carry baskets of oranges and throw the fruit toward spectators. The practice is playful rather than aggressive, although the oranges can damage windows and other property. Traditionally, receiving an orange is considered lucky because it is a gift from a Gille, while throwing one back is regarded as insulting.
Binche’s carnival has medieval roots, with written records dating to 1394. The Gilles tradition itself is documented later, and the Carnival of Binche was proclaimed a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003. The fruit is therefore part of a highly specific local custom, not a general Mardi Gras throw.