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Old postcards from Echternach
Echternach: The dancing procession



The historic "dancing procession" of Echternach. 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. Documents from the end of the 16th century first mention the “dancing saints”, but the tradition is much older. It may even go back to Willibrord’s time (8th century).


Dancing Procession of Echternach




Women have officially been allowed to take part in the Dancing Procession since 1802.

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Willibrord's procession




Old postcard with the melody of the famous Echternach procession.


The Echternach-Procession




The traditional starting point of the Dancing Procession was a cross in Echternacherbrück (Germany), close to the Old Bridge.
Echternacherbrück was part of the Duchy of Luxembourg until the Congress of Vienna (1815).  Since the Nazis prohibited
the Dancing Procession before WWII, the pilgrims have met in the yard of the former abbey in Echternach.

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The Echternach-Procession




Since hundreds of years, the Echternach dancing procession attracts thousands of visitors every year. The hoppers dressed in white and black move rhythmically through the narrow streets of the old town, watched by thousands of spectators. 

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The Dancing-Procession: Today




Still nowadays pilgrims come from Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France  and many other countries to honour  Saint Willibrord, the founder of the Benedictine Abbey at Echternach (698). Their goal is Willibrord’s shrine in the Carolingian crypt of the Basilica. Though the events is not only a spiritual highlight of the year, but also an economic one: Hotels and Restaurants boom during these days.

Much has changed over time -even the real origins of the tradition  got forgotten. To get an impression:
Watch videos of the event - click here

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Dancing Procession of Echternach




A more recent postcard showing the pupils of the local primary school.