The Corpus Christi is a 700 years old celebration, although for a period of time it stopped being celebrated until the City Council and the Cathedral of Barcelona, decided to recover this celebration, one of the oldest and most beautiful festivities of the city. The recovery was based on two of the most popular elements of the festival: "l'ou com balla" -the dancing egg- and the procession. To these two elements is added a third: the creation of ephemeral carpets. The commemorative events take place mainly in the courtyards and gardens of Barcelona's emblematic buildings, where there is an explosion of flower carpets, ous com balla, peals of bells, exhibitions, talks, parades, dances, open doors, pyrotechnics and organ concerts and the procession.
In this year's edition 2023, there will be activities in all districts of Barcelona except Nou Barris.
The three elements of Corpus Christi
L'ou com balla (the egg as it dances)
"L'ou com balla", one of the most unique celebrations in Barcelona, has been held since 1637. The custom consists of making an egg dance on the water thrown from the spouts of cloisters, courtyards and gardens, which are decorated for the occasion with floral motifs and cherries. The tradition, as simple as it is mysterious, continues to generate controversy about its origin and meaning.
The most outstanding spaces where the egg will dance this year:
- Cathedral
- Archive of the Crown of Aragon
- Arxiu Històric - Casa de l'Ardiaca
- Ateneu Barcelonès
- Frederic Marès Museum
- Maritime Museum
- Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Pedralbes
- Rubió i Lluch Gardens
- Santa Ana Church
The procession
The highlight of the Corpus Christi festival in Barcelona is the procession, a parade with all the elements of the popular entourage, such as the Giants of the City, the Àliga, the Lleó, the Bou and many more. In addition, they leave accompanied by several groups of dances, music and with more elements of popular culture, such as trabucaires, the Coronela, the Falcons and the mojiganga. The procession, which has been celebrated in Barcelona since 1320, is intangible cultural heritage of the city, and takes place on the Sunday following the Corpus Christi festivities (this year it will be on June 11). The acts of the procession will begin at 18:00 h in the Pla de la Seu, next to the Cathedral, and the procession at 19:00 h with the presentation of the festive figures in the City Hall that make a first tour that begins in the Plaza Sant Jaume and continues along Bisbe Street, Plaza Nova and Arcs Street. At 7:45 p.m. the procession resumes and the liturgical procession is added.
Procession route
- Nova Square
- Arcs Street
- Cucurulla Street
- Cucurulla Square
- Pi Street
- Sant Josep Oriol Square
- Pi Square
- Cardenal Casañas Street
- Pla de la Boqueria
- La Rambla
- Ferran Street
- Sant Jaume Square
- Bisbe Street
- Nova Square
- Cathedral Avenue
The carpets
Traditionally they were made with flower petals, whole flowers and grass, but nowadays more materials are used, such as seeds, sawdust and shavings dyed with anilines, coffee grounds, coffee capsules and other recovered materials. The carpets depict a variety of motifs: religious, local themes or anniversaries.
Emblematic spaces in which carpets will be installed
- City Hall
- The Cathedral
- La Casa dels Entremesos
- Museum of Ethnology and World Cultures
- Virreina Square
- Pi Square
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