The Feast of Corpus Christi, also known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, inspires many unique celebrations among Catholic communities around the world. But no one perhaps rivals the unique tradition of Barcelona’s L’ou com balla, literally “dancing egg.”
Probably originating in the Cathedral of Barcelona in the 17th century, this celebration involves placing the hollowed out shell of an egg on the jet of a fountain and letting it bounce around, as if it was “dancing” on water.
Every year, between June 19 and June 22, many ancient fountains around the Catalonian capital become the setting of this unusual egg dance. If you stop into a cloister during the weekend of Corpus Christi, you won’t miss the signs. Fountains are usually decorated with flowers such as carnations, roses, and hydrangeas and shrubs like laurel and ivy.
The tranquil sound of trickling water is interrupted by the intermittent bobbing of an egg. Jogged around by the fountain’s jet, the egg spins, bounces and hovers, appearing almost weightless. Despite appearing fragile, the egg hardly ever breaks or falls – an event considered a bad omen by locals. This sort of “hypnotic” dance captivates adults and children alike with visitors flocking from other areas of Spain to witness this unique tradition.
It is hard to pinpoint this tradition’s exact origins, but written references mention L’ou com balla taking place during Corpus Christi rituals in the cloister of Barcelona’s Cathedral in 1637.
Corpus Christi, a celebration started in the 13th century by Dominicans as a way to celebrate the Eucharist and officialized in 1316 by Pope John XXII, was and still is one of the most important festivities in the Catholic calendar.
Barcelona was one of the first cities in Europe to celebrate Corpus Christi with a solemn procession -- a tradition that has been documented since 1320.
What's the meaning?
So what is the connection between a feast that celebrates the “Body of Christ” and an egg dancing on a fountain? The answer is not clear cut, but many see the egg as being the symbol of the Body of Christ (white, pure) and the way it almost levitates on water a symbol of the elevation of the host during Mass.
Eggs are also a universal symbol of life and rebirth across cultures. In Spanish communities across Catalonia and Valencia, eggs play an important role in many celebrations, especially Easter when godparents give godchildren “mona” cakes decorated with chocolate eggs, or even hard-boiled eggs.
As explained in an article published by Josep Gordi in Catalunya Religió, the “dancing egg” can also be seen as representing the consecrated host of the Eucharist, with the fountain representing the chalice, and water the blood of Christ. As Gordi observes, the dancing egg is not just a playful show but a strong metaphor for the Eucharist in the Catholic liturgy.
If you visit Barcelona for Corpus Christi celebrations you can spot the dancing egg in the cloister of Barcelona Cathedral, in Casa de l’Ardiaca, at the Museu Frederic Marès and at the Pedralbes Monastery, among other places.
