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The "ou com balla" tradition at L'Arxiu Històric de la Ciutat de Barcelona in June 2021. Photo by Pandora Domeyko.
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The "ou com balla" tradition at L'Arxiu Històric de la Ciutat de Barcelona in June 2021. Photo by Pandora Domeyko.
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The "ou com balla" tradition at L'Arxiu Històric de la Ciutat de Barcelona in June 2021. Photo by Pandora Domeyko.
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The "ou com balla" tradition at L'Arxiu Històric de la Ciutat de Barcelona in June 2021. Photo by Pandora Domeyko.
On a warm afternoon in late May or early June, should you find yourself wandering the streets of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, you might come across an unusual sight in one of its many beautiful cloisters and courtyards: an egg, balancing and bouncing atop a stream of water in an exquisitely-decorated fountain. It may look like some kind of Easter tradition, but these eggs aren’t meant to be hidden and hunted. Quite the opposite, in fact.
This is a centuries old Catalan tradition called the ou com balla, or in English, the dancing egg. First documented in 1440 in the records of Barcelona's cathedral, the ou com balla is celebrated every year around the Feast of Corpus Christi, when the fountains of the Gothic Quarter are taken over by garlands of lush spring flowers, ushering in a scent as beautiful as the sight. The egg, however, is not one you’d find in the supermarket. Before placing the egg into the stream of water, it is emptied and the hole plugged with wax, minimizing the potential for mess.
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The "ou com balla" tradition at the Museu Frederic Marès in June 2021. Photo by Pandora Domeyko.
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The "ou com balla" tradition at the Museu Frederic Marès in June 2021. Photo by Pandora Domeyko.
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The "ou com balla" tradition at the Palau de Lloctinent. in June 2021. Photo by Pandora Domeyko.
There are several hypotheses as to the origin and meaning behind the dancing egg. Some say the tradition began when a citizen noticed an eggshell balancing perfectly on the stream of a fountain. A religious interpretation states that the tradition represents the Eucharist, with the egg acting as the body of Christ. It could also be seen as spring’s final symbol of rebirth and creation, ideas often represented by both eggs and flowers.
Whatever its roots, the ou com balla is now visited by local families in droves, and even tourists can’t resist peeking into the courtyards to see what all the fuss is about. The tradition also provides a reminder that in our busy, fast-paced world, we can still be brought to joy by the humble simplicity of fresh flowers and an egg.
Published June 23, 2021, updated May 26, 2024
Pandora Domeyko.
Pandora Domeyko is a freelance photojournalist who left her home country of the United States in 2018 to create a new home in beautiful Barcelona. She loves to explore the city with her camera in tow and to experience its many diverse cultural scenes. She’s always on the lookout for interesting events and initiatives related to art, female empowerment and the environment. When she's not writing or taking photos, she's out getting lost in nature or traveling to a new corner of the world. You can see her work online at pandoradomeyko.com and you can follow her on Instagram at @pandoraexplores.