gilles
n. countablen. a traditional character in Belgian carnivals who wears a bright costume, a wax mask, and a hat made of ostrich feathers. They are famous for dancing through the streets and throwing oranges to the crowd.
n. a traditional folk character central to the Carnival of Binche in Belgium, recognised by UNESCO as a masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage. The role is exclusively male and involves specific ritual attire, including a wax mask, wooden clogs, and a large ostrich-feather headdress.
The Gilles dance through the streets during the carnival.
During the Carnival of Binche, hundreds of Gilles gather at dawn to begin their traditional dance through the town square.
The intricate costume of the Gilles, featuring heraldic lions and heavy bells, serves as a powerful symbol of local identity and historical continuity within the Walloon region of Belgium.
Often capitalised as it refers to a specific cultural figure; the plural form is identical to the singular or takes an 's'.