L'Ou com Balla
My rough and ready translation of the Corpus signboard:
Many years ago, the cathedral and the municipality decided to reclaim one of the oldest and most brilliant festivals that is celebrated in the city: the Corpus. They did it starting from the two most popular and participatory elements, products of the heritage of the Barcelones: the dancing egg and the procession.
The dancing egg, a celebration most particular to Barcelona, has characterized the Corpus festival since 1637. The custom consists in making an egg dance in the cloister fountains, which are adorned for the occasion with floral motifs and cherries.
The tradition, as simple as it is mysterious, awakens passions in scholars of the tradition, who still argue today about its origin and meaning. For some it's a metaphor for the cycle of life and a reference to time and continuous movement. Others view it as a simple entertainment typical of the Middle Ages.
