Dancing egg
Encyclopedia
The dancing egg is an old tradition that takes place in several towns in Catalonia
during the feast of Corpus Christi
. The tradition probably started at the Cathedral of Barcelona
.
There is evidence from the 16th century that acolytes would place a dancing egg
on the fountain of the Barcelona Cathedral's cloister. The egg had been emptied and it would have some wax to fill the hole and add some weight. Positioned over the water jet from a fountain, the egg starts turning without falling. In addition, the fountain is usually decorated with flowers and fresh fruits, such as cherries with which it covers the bowl of the fountain, or broom and carnations.
From the Cathedral, the tradition also started at the patio of the neighboring Casa de l'Ardiaca (Archdeacon's House), and, from the eighties of the 20th century, at several courtyards of the Barcelona
city center. In addition, other Catalan cities and towns began to do it.
In Barcelona the Dancing Egg takes place in several locations within the Gothic Quarter: Barcelona Cathedral, the Casa de l'Ardiaca, and also at other yards such as Ateneu Barcelonès, the Archives of the Crown of Aragon (Lloctinent Palace), the Royal Academy of Arts of Barcelona, Frederic Marès Museum, the cloister of the Monastery of Jonqueres (by the Puríssima Concepció basilica), the courtyards of the Centelles Palace & History Museum of Barcelona.
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
during the feast of Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi (feast)
Corpus Christi is a Latin Rite solemnity, now designated the solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ . It is also celebrated in some Anglican, Lutheran and Old Catholic Churches. Like Trinity Sunday and the Solemnity of Christ the King, it does not commemorate a particular event in...
. The tradition probably started at the Cathedral of Barcelona
Cathedral of Santa Eulalia
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia , also known as Barcelona Cathedral, is the Gothic cathedral and seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona, Spain. The cathedral was constructed throughout the 13th to 15th centuries, with the principal work done in the 14th century. The cloister, which...
.
There is evidence from the 16th century that acolytes would place a dancing egg
Egg
-Biology/food:*Egg , an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop*Ovum, a female egg cell*Egg , the egg of a fowl or fish consumed as food-Places:*Egg Island *Egg, Switzerland, a Swiss municipality...
on the fountain of the Barcelona Cathedral's cloister. The egg had been emptied and it would have some wax to fill the hole and add some weight. Positioned over the water jet from a fountain, the egg starts turning without falling. In addition, the fountain is usually decorated with flowers and fresh fruits, such as cherries with which it covers the bowl of the fountain, or broom and carnations.
From the Cathedral, the tradition also started at the patio of the neighboring Casa de l'Ardiaca (Archdeacon's House), and, from the eighties of the 20th century, at several courtyards of the Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
city center. In addition, other Catalan cities and towns began to do it.
In Barcelona the Dancing Egg takes place in several locations within the Gothic Quarter: Barcelona Cathedral, the Casa de l'Ardiaca, and also at other yards such as Ateneu Barcelonès, the Archives of the Crown of Aragon (Lloctinent Palace), the Royal Academy of Arts of Barcelona, Frederic Marès Museum, the cloister of the Monastery of Jonqueres (by the Puríssima Concepció basilica), the courtyards of the Centelles Palace & History Museum of Barcelona.
- In IgualadaIgualadaIgualada is a municipality of the province of Barcelona in Catalonia . It is located on the left bank of the Anoia river, and at the western end of the Igualada-Martorell-Barcelona railway. Igualada is the capital and central market of the Anoia comarca, a rich agricultural and wine-producing...
the egg dances at the Pius XII square. - In SitgesSitges*Church of Sant Bartolomeu i Santa Tecla . It houses two Gothic sepulchres , belonging to the an older church located on the same site...
it is found at the Maricel Museum. - In TarragonaTarragonaTarragona is a city located in the south of Catalonia on the north-east of Spain, by the Mediterranean. It is the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the capital of the Catalan comarca Tarragonès. In the medieval and modern times it was the capital of the Vegueria of Tarragona...
in 1933, the canon Dr. Josep Vallès Barceló began decorating the garden and placed a dancing egg on the fountain of the cloister of the Tarragona CathedralTarragona CathedralThe Cathedral of Tarragona is a Roman Catholic church in Tarragona, Spain. Located in a site previously occupied by a Roman temple dating to the time of Tiberius, a Visigothic cathedral and a Moorish mosque, it was declared a national monument in 1905....
. Its popularity grew, especially after the Spanish civil warSpanish Civil WarThe Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, with the assistance of the authorities on the first day. At present it's prepared by a team of volunteers, a volunteer florist and the cathedral sacristy.