BELGIUM: It's Carnival Season! Binche and Malmedy Carnivals are on this weekend

This weekend will see the Carnivals of Binche and Malmedy. These are two carnivals not to miss as they are HUGE.

Binche Carnival is one of the most famous in Belgium and was named a " Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangiable Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO in 2003.

On Sunday afternoon (15th February) you can see the beautiful and colorful costumes that the different groups or “societies” (the Gilles, the Peasants, the Sailors, the Clowns and the Harlequins) have been preparing in secret for months – these costumes are different each year. This parade is a great event for families with children.

On the Shrove Tuesday Parade (17th February) the legendary “Gilles” will be out in force in their traditional costumes. These costumes are red, yellow and black (the colors of the BEL flag) and are decorated with lions, stars, bells and crowns. Wooden clogs are also part of the outfit. If the weather permits, the Gilles wear hats made of ostrich feathers for the afternoon procession in the streets of the city (the big parade starts at “Battignies square” at 1500 hours). The Peasants, the Sailors, the Clowns and the Harlequins wear their traditional costumes as well.

At Binche Carnival there is a lot of dancing, drinking and music (there are special “rhythms” for the Gilles, and it is nice to hear that with the noise of the wooden clogs on the cobbled streets). Binche Carnival attracts tourists from around the world.

For directions, the program for each day, the history, the participants and their significance in the folklore, etc., please see https://en.carnavaldebinche.be/

The city of Malmedy has had a special friendship with SHAPE for over 55 years and has supplied the Christmas Tree that sits outside the Main Building every year. The Malmedy Carnival is another fantastic one to see whilst you are here.

The parade starts at 1400 at “Place de Rome” on Sunday 15th February (the most important day for Malmedy Carnival). There is a lot of music and…drinking!

For more information about the traditional Carnival figures, the full program, the itinerary and more, please see https://www.malmedy-tourisme.be/en/que-faire/le-carnaval/

Bon Carneval!

Information provided by SHAPE HIVE