The
Dancing Procession of Echternach
Held on Whit-Tuesday in honour of St. Willibrord,
born in Northumberland in 658 A.D.,
died in Echternach in 739 A.D.
The origins of this dancing procession are very vague, and can't
be traced with certitude.
In the ecclesiastic society, it is generally admitted that the
procession already took place on the year of St. Willibrord's
death in 739. It was only during the 14th century, when epidemics
of plague were devastating Europe, that it was transformed into
a procession of prayers against the great calamities of the Middle
Ages: St. Vitus's dance, the plague, epilepsy, and the corrupt
practice of flagellation. One doesn't know if the procession was
already, at that time a dancing procession. However, one must
take into account, the existence in 1342, of a similar "dancing"
procession, which used to take place in the small town of Prüm
in the Eifel.
Historians assume that the pilgrimages to Echternach, seeking
divine protection against the dreaded St. Vitus's dance, the plague,
and other illnesses, were (in 1348 or 1378) at the origin of the
dancing procession of Echternach. In fact, it adopted the most
varied forms. At one time, there was even a "motionless procession".
In this case, the pilgrims used to stop at the sound of a bell,
and then moved forward a few steps, before falling down on their
knees, and starting the gestures all over again. At another time,
the "crawling procession" was in fashion; the pilgrims
would crawl under a stone, facing the cross of St. Willibrord.
There were still a few abuses in the practice of these religious
customs. For example, a "cattle-bell dance" used to
take place in front of the cross which was erected on the Market
place. This dance was prohibited in 1664.
Under the reign of Joseph II, the archbishop Wenceslas of Trier
decreed in 1777 that the procession of the "dancing saints"
should only be a pilgrim's procession. Eleven years later, it
was abolished again, and then started again a few years after
the archbishop's death. It is at this time that the traditional
steps were adjusted: from then on, the pilgrims had to perform
their steps backwards, slightly obliquely. During the French Revolution
in 1789, the dancing procession of Echternach was once more prohibited.
However, since 1802, this ancient custom is again in favour, and
remains so until today.
The pilgrimage is preceded by a sermon in the open air in front
of an ancient cross. The pilgrims assemble on the bridge over
the river Sûre, and the starting signal is given by an enormous
bell donated to the town by the emperor Maximilian as a memento
to his pilgrimage in 1512. Up until shortly after the second World
War, the procession was danced five paces forward, and three back,
to a simple melody played over and over by the musicians scattered
throughout the procession. Since then, so many people are taking
part in the pilgrimage that the paces had to be changed once more,
and are now moving forward only, albeit with an alternating left
and right motion. The music is played by fanfares, violin-, mandolin
groups, and even sung. Aptly, the tune
is reminiscent of a Northern jig or reel. The long crocodile of
people is headed by the clergy, then the youngsters, and lastly
the older people.
The procession goes through the streets of Echternach, and up
the wide staircase of 60 steps, leading up to the Parish Church.
The pilgrims climb these, still to the music, enter the Church
and make a tour around the crypt under the main altar of the church,
and which contains the remains of St. Willibrord, thus fulfilling
their vows, sometimes made through inexpressible pain, either
moral or physical.
There is a growing interest for this religious event, which attracts
pilgrims from all over Luxembourg, as well as from the neighbouring
countries (Germany, France, Belgium, and even Holland), as it
is both an expression of the Catholic faith, and a celebration
to honour the Saint, whose influence has spread far beyond the
limits of the actual Grand Duchy.
Further information about the procession can be found on the server
of the Lycée classique Echternach
