New-York tribune., 1902-05-11
THE DANCING PILGRIMS.
A STRANGE wHITsUN CUSTOM AT ECH-
TERNACH, LUXEMBOURG.

zone. two three. ahead; one two in the rear;
tra-la-la-la tra-la-la." And ad hnitum,
until the hear nothing else. What strange.
wild srotesque scene, Hundreds OF devout peas
ants. their faces black with the dust and sweat.
putting and blowing their exertions. yet able to
catch breath enough 10 sing the eternal 'Tra-Ia-
la-la." II impossible to sleep despite the per-
feet calm OF the lovely country round about. for
ones legs catch the rythm. and in half waking
dreams sings that monotonous 'tra-la-a-la.
and hops like the pilgrims.
EchternaCh is a pretty little village OF the Grand
Duchy OF Luxembourg. OF 1000 inhabitants. situated
on the banks OF the Sure, picturesque affuent
OF the Mosere. that runs at the foot Of steep and
wooded rocks between the territory Of the grand
duchy and that Of Rhenish Prussia. and boasts an
ancient history. In the days Of the Romans IL
was a fourshing city. and in the Middle Ages
the BenediCtine abbey. founded toward the end Of
the seventh century by 81. Willi5rord. the patron
saint Of the Friesanders. enjoyed reputation
that gave II the name Of the school Of Benedic-
tines The Pearl Of the Order" All that remains
to-day. however. ~ interest is the old Roman
bridge the restored buildings Of the abbey. now
hospital and the silver bell presented by the En-
peror Macmillan. and the strange hopping pro-
cesson.
This curious religious observance takes place
every year Whit Tuesday. the Of which
and through the night little bands Of pilgrims may
be seen coming along all the various routes lead
ing to the town. headed by the village cure the
choir boys and the church crosses and they come
from far, walking for miles and miles sleeping
in barns and stables. under the open sky az the
foot of the steps that lead the old church. Be
yond the bridge the Sure. on the very first
bit of Prussian territory, Is a rude cross said 10
stand in the place of the linden tree planted there
by 81. Willibrord when he came to that part of
the country to preach TO the people. Near the
cross an antique pulpit is raised and II is from
the foot OF this that the procession starts
Early in the morning the clergy OF Fchternach
assemble there, and short sermon is delivered
by the officiating vicar and then all the assembly
after having sung short mass starts At first the
procession is not long. composed Of a few hun
dred peasants from the Prussian mountains very
quiet and reserved But a great mass of human
ity awaits on the Luxembourg side 10 Join them
Then the sound OF the brass bands mingIes with
the rolling Of the drums the chanting of the tanv
and the weird song dedicated to the saint ."Tra-Ia
la-la! Tra-la-la!" The procession bv degrees
lengthens. and when the head is near the church
the end is only at the bridge. the whole covering
over mile. From the rising of the sun ten thou
sand pilgrims congregate. When the head OF the
procession reaches the church the signal for tbA
hopping is given. What a sight! What a varitabla
pandemonium. 10 which nothing is comparable,
Imagine. If YOU can, a vast crowd Of old ord
young men. women. boys. girls. hopping from,
one 1901 TO the other, three steps forward and u,
backward. steadily advancing singing Itanies ac
companied by shril cornet and encourared nv .
drum corps. The men hold each other hv the ba,d
the women bind themselves to each other Nv, baD5
Kerchlets twisted round the wrists two by two or