Around 1000 Gilles, all male, some as young as three years old, wear the traditional costume of the Gille on Shrove Tuesday. The outfit features a linen suit with red, yellow, and black heraldic designs (the colours of the [[Belgian flag]]), trimmed with large white-lace cuffs and collars. The suit is stuffed with straw, giving the Gille a hunched back.<ref name="vt1724">{{cite web |url=http://www.virtourist.com/europe/wallonia/17.htm |title=17/24.- Wallonia: Gilles de Binche |accessdate=2009-03-04}}</ref>
The Gilles also wear wooden clogs and have bells attached to their belts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/02/24/arts/EU-Belgium-Mardi-Gras.php |title=Colorful Belgian 'Gilles' dancers mark Mardi Gras |date=2009-02-24 |publisher=International Herald Tribune |accessdate=2009-03-04}}</ref> In the morning, they wear a wax mask of a particular design. After reaching the town hall, they remove these masks—theymasks are not worn infor the afternoon. During the afternoon parade, theyGilles throw [[blood orange]]s to (andthe sometimescrowd or at)theits crowdmembers, and some of the Gilles wear large, white, feathered hats. TheyGilles carry ''ramons'', tied bunches of twigs that are said to ward off evil spirits, and baskets in which to carry the oranges.<ref name="vt1724"/>[[File:Binche_Statue_Gille.JPG|thumb|Gille de Binche (1952) by Robert Delnest.]]
Their sticks are said to ward off evil spirits.
[[File:Binche_Statue_Gille.JPG|thumb|Gille de Binche (1952) by Robert Delnest.]]
