| This festival has been celebrated in the city since the Middle Ages |
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Barcelona is celebrating the Feast of Corpus Christi, one of the oldest and most spectacular festivals in the city's history, and one with two very popular traditions: the dancing egg and the procession.
The dancing egg has its origin in the 15th century. The Barcelona Cathedral ledger has an entry referring to eggs that had to be placed on the fountain in the cloister on the day of the festival.
The tradition consists of an egg that spins on the jet of water rising out of the fountain, the base of which is decorated with flowers, symbolising the passage of time and the cycle of life. It is also linked to the geese that were used to guard religious sites because, if a stranger appeared, they would wake the guard with the noise they made.
Anyone who wants to can admire this old tradition at the fountain of Sant Jordi in the Cathedral cloister, in the parish church of Santa Anna, at the Museu Marès and Ca l'Ardiaca, among other places, from 7 to 10 June.
The procession
The procession, which will be held this Sunday, 10 June, is part of the city's cultural heritage and has been celebrated since 1320. The Corpus Christi procession, which for centuries was the real festa major of Barcelona, has been the source of many dances and elements of the city's festive imagery.
The gegants, capgrossos and bestiari fantàstic (giants, big heads and imaginary beasts) are the fruit of the popular imagination that have always formed part of the procession.
Since 1992, the present procession has included giants and dwarves, the Eagle, the Lion, the Dragon and many other beasts.
Open day in the Barri Gotic
June 7 is open day in the old centre of the city at the Town Hall, Palau Centelles, Palau de Capitania, City History Museum and Pia Almoina.
Visitors to the Town Hall can enjoy the exhibition on Barcelona's Popular Procession, where they can see the giants and other figures. |
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Related files: |
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Corpus Christi Programme (PDF) |
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Dancing Egg Programme (PDF) |
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