A Man In Spooky Carnival Costume And Mask Real Photo Postcard

The Gille is the iconic central figure of the Carnival of Binche, a renowned pre-Lenten festival held annually in Binche, Belgium. This elaborate costume, likely captured in the early 20th century, features a distinctive padded suit adorned with stylized lions and stars, ruffled lace collars and cuffs, and traditional wooden clogs (*sabots*). On Shrove Tuesday, the Gille wears the *Aroule* mask, characterized by its spectacles, mustache, and goatee, and carries a *ramon*, a bundle of dried twigs, used for symbolic sweeping.