Corpus Christi: Where to See Dancing Eggs and Floral Tapestries

Things To Do

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The dancing egg in l'Oratori de Sant Felip Neri de Gràcia. Photo by Eduard Pedrocchi courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

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Floral tapestry in Plaça de la Virreina, Barcelona (2022) photo by Tara Shain

Corpus Christi celebrations return to Barcelona from June 4th to the 7th this year filling the city's squares and courtyards with elaborate catifes florals (floral tapestries) and the curious tradition of l'ou com balla (dancing egg). If you've never seen them, it's well worth investigating where you can spot them. 

First held in 1320, Corpus Christi is one of Barcelona's oldest festivals, and each year the days leading up to Corpus Christi are replete with cultural activities. In addition to the floral tapestries and dancing eggs, you'll find exhibitions, open houses, talks, traditional folk dances, religious processions and dancing gegants and bèstias festivus (festival beasts).

Below is a comprehensive list of where and when you can see both the dancing egg and the floral tapestries decorating Barcelona's plazas this year.

Where to See l’Ou Com Balla

Ciutat Vella

Eixample

Gràcia

Les Corts

Sants-Montjuïc

Poblenou

  • Santa Maria del Taulat L’ou com balla: June 4-7 during the church’s open hours. Catifa floral: June 7, 10:00-13:00. On June 7 at 13:00 the gegants, capgrossos and drac of Poblenou will dance upon the carpet.

Horta-Guinardó

Sant Andreu

  • Torre de la Sagrera L'ou com balla: June 1-5, 9:30-14:00 & 16:00-21:00, June 6, 9:30-14:00. Catifa floral: June 5, 17:00-21:00, June 6, 9:30-11:00. On June 6 at 11:00 the drac, diables and gegants of la Sagrera will dance upon the floral carpet.

Sant Martí

  • Plaça d’Ignaci Juliol L’ou com balla & catifa floral: June 6, 10:00-19:00. At about 18:00 the gegants de la Verneda will dance upon the carpets in the neighborhood.
  • Sant Martí del Clot de la Mel L’ou com balla: June 4 & 6, 10:00-13:00 & 17:00-20:00, June 5, 17:00-20:00, June 7, 9:00-14:00. Catifa Floral: June 6, 17:00-20:00, June 7, 9:00-14:00. On June 7 at 13:30 the Esbart of Sant Martí will dance upon the carpet.

Where to See Catifes Florals

Ciutat Vella

Eixample

Gràcia

  • Carrer de la Llibertat L'ou com balla & catifa floral: June 7, 10:00-18:00. At 18:00 the gegants of Gràcia will dance upon the carpet.
  • Centre Artesà Tradicionarius Catifa floral: June 7, 9:00-18:30.
  • Espai Albert Musons L'ou com balla & catifa floral: June 4-7, 10:00-14:30 & 16:30-20:30. 
  • Oratori de Sant Felip Neri de Gràcia L'ou com balla & catifa floral: June 4-6, 11:00-13:00 & 17:00-20:30, June 7, 11:00-20:00.
  • Plaça de la Virreina Catifes florals: June 7, 8:30-19:00. Two floral carpets will grace the plaza, with the decoration of both beginning at 8:30. At 13:00 the Corpus procession of the parishes of Sant Joan de Gràcia and Santa Maria de Gràcia will walk across one. Then, at 19:00 the eagle, lion and ox of Gràcia will dance upon the other.

Les Corts

Sants-Montjuïc

Poblenou

  • Santa Maria del Taulat L’ou com balla: June 4-7 during the church’s open hours. Catifa floral: June 7, 10:00-13:00. On June 7 at 13:00 the gegants, capgrossos and drac of Poblenou will dance upon the carpet.

Sant Andreu

  • Can Fontanet Catifa floral: June 4-7, 10:00-14:00.
  • Can Galta Cremat Catifa floral: June 4-26, Tuesday-Saturday, 16:30-21:00.
  • Plaça d’Orfila Catifa floral: June 6, 9:30-18:00. At 18:00 cultural groups from Sant Andreu will dance upon the carpet.
  • Torre de la Sagrera L'ou com balla: June 1-5, 9:30-14:00 & 16:00-21:00, June 6, 9:30-14:00. Catifa floral: June 5, 17:00-21:00, June 6, 9:30-11:00. On June 6 at 11:00 the drac, diables and gegants of la Sagrera will dance upon the floral carpet.
  • Plaça dels Jardins d’Elx Catifa floral: June 6, 8:00-14:00. At 13:00 the gegants of La Sagrera alongside Crespinella will dance across the carpet.

Sant Martí

  • Centre Cívic Sant Martí Catifa floral: June 6, 10:00-19:00. At 16:00 the gegants of la Verneda will dance upon the carpet.
  • Rambla de Guipúscoa Catifa floral: June 6, 10:00-19:00. At 18:00 around the gegants of la Verneda will begin to go through the neighborhood and dance upon the floral carpets.
  • Plaça d’Ignaci Juliol L’ou com balla & catifa floral: June 6, 10:00-19:00. At about 18:00 the gegants de la Verneda will dance upon the carpets in the neighborhood.
  • Sant Martí del Clot de la Mel L’ou com balla: June 4 & 6, 10:00-13:00 & 17:00-20:00, June 5, 17:00-20:00, June 7, 9:00-14:00. Catifa Floral: June 6, 17:00-20:00, June 7, 9:00-14:00. On June 7 at 13:30 the Esbart of Sant Martí will dance upon the carpet.

Sarrià-Sant Gervasi

You can download the full program of activities from the city's website (in Catalan).

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