Europe’s Last Remaining Dancing Religious Procession

Every year in Luxembourg, pilgrims perform a ritual dance through the streets to honor a saint. It is the very last traditional dancing procession still practiced in all of Europe.

This unique tradition involves thousands of people hopping rhythmically to music as they march through the town of Echternach. While modern processions are often somber, this joyful event dates back centuries to medieval times. It is so culturally significant that it has earned recognition on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list. The spectacle continues to draw massive crowds who come to witness this rare piece of living history.