In the Carnival of Binche, Belgium, what are the performers called? Gilles.
The principal performers in the Carnival of Binche are called Gilles. They are traditionally local male participants who appear in distinctive costumes, wax masks and wooden clogs, accompanied by drumming and ceremonial dancing.
The carnival’s documented history reaches back to 1394, while the earliest written references to the Gilles themselves date from 1795. Their exact origin is debated. Popular theories connect elements of their appearance with commedia dell’arte or with sixteenth-century festivities associated with Mary of Hungary, but no single origin story is universally proven.
On Shrove Tuesday, Gilles dance through Binche and carry bundles of twigs called ramons, traditionally used to ward off evil spirits. Later, many wear large hats decorated with ostrich feathers and carry baskets of oranges. Throwing oranges to the crowd is considered a gesture of good luck, not an act of hostility.
The names in the wrong-answer list are unrelated character types or carnival terms. Gilles is the specific and canonical name for Binche’s signature performers.