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By train, car or plane: numerous possibilities to get to Luxembourg. 1.Some 13.000 pilgrims meet in Echternach on Tuesday after Whitsun to take part in the procession.They carry on with a popular, ancient tradition, which has survived political upheavals and church prohibitions. ( As you have to hop on the spot during a halt, some people thought that the procession was drifting backwards and forward, which is why some believed this to be the original dancing form and why some groups started hopping this way in the 19th century until it was banned during the Second World War. Nowadays, musicians, prelates, abbots, bishops and 9.000 pilgrims from all over Europe, mostly dressed in white shirts and dark trousers, hop to a polka melody through the medieval streets of Echternach to the crypt past St. Willibrord’s tomb. In our online shop you will find a wide selection of all issues of our “Luxembourg Card”, giving you free admission to over 60 tourist attractions. Discover the multifaceted Grand Duchy with our latest brochures, videos and pictures.
The source of this particular custom goes back to the 16th century, when male pilgrims from Waxweiler started performing a hopping dance on the way to Echternach to present their offerings for the Whitsuntide holidays. Find some inspiration and travel tips for your next Luxembourg stay in this blog. Searching for a great short break? The dancing procession of Echternach is an annual Roman Catholic dancing procession held at Echternach, in eastern Luxembourg.Echternach's is the last traditional dancing procession in Europe.. The first written reference of the hopping saints goes back to 1497 but as it refers to something quite routine, the origins must be from much earlier. In the past, the dancing procession has adopted other forms. Soon after his death, pilgrims started to arrive to hear the miracles which had happened at his tomb. The Dancing Procession is first mentioned in the Echternach city archives in 1497.
By train, car or plane: numerous possibilities to get to Luxembourg. After his death in the 8th century, he was buried in the church built by himself.
The historic "dancing procession" of Echternach. Only since the end of the 18th century, the procession has been open to women as well. Since 1945, the original sideways and forward step has been in use again. In the museum of the baroque abbey, the information and documentation centre of the hopping procession, and the lapidary museum, visitors and pilgrims can see the distinctive features of the basilica, the abbey, its scriptorium and the procession whose origins have been lost in the mists of time.© Luxembourg for Tourism 2020. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg at one glance! In 1900, Henri Meige, a neurologist with a special interest in movement disorders, visited Echternach to observe the annual Dancing Procession. The hopping step is sideways and forward. It may also be seen as a sign of human joy, inspired by the love of God. Searching for a great short break? Curious about Luxembourg? It honours Willibrord, the patron saint of Luxembourg, who established the Abbey of Echternach. Here you will find a brief summary of the most important facts and figures. At one stage the pilgrims would take three steps forward and two steps backwards, thus taking five steps in order to advance one; at another stage the pilgrims would repeatedly stop at the sound of the bell donated by Willibrord's Abbey of Echternach was a major Christian centre in the The procession took place annually without intermission until 1777. The Dancing Procession of Echternach, or Hopping Procession, is held once a year to honor Luxembourg’s only saint: Saint Willibrord, the founder of Echternach Abbey. Buy your Luxembourg Card online! Discover the multifaceted Grand Duchy with our latest brochures, videos and pictures. Different means of transport enable everyone to travel easily inside Luxembourg.
Free access to more than 60 tourist destinations in Luxembourg. As more and more pilgrims arrived in Echternach the church had to be enlarged and his tomb had to be placed in the centre of the choir. Here you will find a brief summary of the most important facts and figures.