Going back, my friend gives me a sketch of the Courtrai tradition of "Marten en Colle," the "giants" of the town.  A few days after she kindly sent me a translation of the legend as told in the Jaerboeken van Kortryk (Annals of Courtrai), by the late Monsieur Goetals-Vercraysse, of which legend the following is a brief transcript:—
    Many centuries ago there lived in Courtrai two friendly blacksmiths, both skilful workmen, and industrious.  One of them had a son, Martin; the other a daughter, Colette...
... Henceforth, to the great joy and pride of the inhabitants, these two giants, Martin and Colle, alternately struck the hour upon the new clock of Les Halles... ("A Flemish Kermesse,"—The Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine, v.1, 1866)