Feast of St. Willaibrord in Luxembourg (07/06)

On the Tuesday after Pentecost, Echternach celebrates a holiday in honor of St. Willaibrord (St. Willibrord, 658—739) — patron of Luxembourg, whose remains are kept in the Basilica of the city.

According to this tradition, which dates back to at least the year of the death of St. Willaibrord, pilgrims dance to cleanse themselves of sins. Today this Dancing Procession of Echternach is known throughout the world.

Participants of the festival gather in the park in front of the city abbey, dance to the blows of a huge 16th-century bell, march through the streets of the city and go up to the Basilica to visit the remains of the saint.

According to legend, the melody they dance to was played on the violin by a medieval thief. As a last wish before his execution, he asked to play it at the city market. The melody was so lively that people began to dance, and in the resulting disorder he managed to escape, escaping punishment.

The tradition was adopted by Christians in honor of St. Willaibrord in an attempt to get rid of the horror of St. Witt's dance-type diseases from the plague. Now the tradition occupies an important place in the Catholic calendar, attracting pilgrims from all over Europe, and in 2010 the procession was included in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.

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