The dancing egg (L'ou com balla in Catalan language) is an old tradition that takes place in several towns in Catalonia during the feast of Corpus Christi. The tradition probably started at the Cathedral of Barcelona.[1]
There is evidence from the 16th century that acolytes would place a dancing egg on the fountain of the Barcelona Cathedral's cloister. The egg had been emptied and it would have some wax to fill the hole and add some weight. Positioned over the water jet from a fountain, the egg starts turning without falling. In addition, the fountain is usually decorated with flowers and fresh fruits, such as cherries with which it covers the bowl of the fountain, or broom and carnations.
From the Cathedral, the tradition also started at the patio of the neighboring Casa de l'Ardiaca (Archdeacon's House), and, from the eighties of the 20th century, at several courtyards of the Barcelona city center. In addition, other Catalan cities and towns began to do it.
In Barcelona the Dancing Egg takes place in several locations within the Gothic Quarter: Barcelona Cathedral, the Casa de l'Ardiaca, and also at other yards such as Ateneu Barcelonès, the Archives of the Crown of Aragon (Lloctinent Palace), the Royal Academy of Arts of Barcelona, Frederic Marès Museum, the cloister of the Monastery of Jonqueres (by the Puríssima Concepció basilica), the courtyards of the Centelles Palace & History Museum of Barcelona.