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| Binche carnival |
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When:
Feb 20, 2012
- Feb 22, 2012
Where: Binche , Belgium
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The city Binche which is located south to Brussels holds, yearly, an annual carnival during the three days before Lent. The carnival attracts thousands of locals and tourists. The event that started in the middle Ages, on the 14th century, is known nowadays as one of the famous street carnivals in Europe.
Thousands of people wear special cloths with giant hates participate in the parades along the city's streets. Shrove Sunday marks the official start of the events. The coffee houses and the streets fill with thousands of disguised celebrators according to the local tradition of the first day of the carnival. The men wear fancy women cloths.
The carnival reaches its climax on Mardi Gras with the appearance of the legendary figure - Gille. The Gilles were known as musicians of Burgundy France in 1400 - 1460.
After an impressive ceremony, hundred of Gilles appear. They wear wooden shoes and black, yellow and red cloths. On their head they put large hats decorated with feathers, on their faces wax masks and little glasses with black frames. On the end of the ceremony, the Gilles march in a traditional parade according to the beats of hundred drums. While marching they throw oranges on the spectators. Clowns, Jugglers, dancers and wind instruments bands join the parade. The events terminates in the evening in Grand Place with mass dances of the crowd with the Gilles under the colorful lights of the fireworks.
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Watch video
Binche carnival
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IMPORTANT:
Please note that the details of the event are subject to change.
We strongly recommended that you check with the organizers
before making any travel arrangements.
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Event related information:
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Belgium -
background and overview:
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.
[Courtesy of The World Factbook]
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Belgium details
Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands. |
Languages:
Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French). |
Climate:
Temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy. |
Capital:
Brussels |
Time Zone:
UTC+1 - (Summer UTC+2 ) |
Currency (code):
Euro (EUR) |
Call Code:
+32 |
Electric Power:
230V 50Hz |
Tourist office:
Office de Promotion du Tourisme de Wallonie et de Bruxelles, ASBL, rue Saint-Bernard 30, 1060 Bruxelles, Belgique |
Tourist website:
Click Here |
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