Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu
On Tuesday 10 June 2025, a few thousand people gathered in Echternach for the town's traditional hopping procession (Iechternacher Sprangprëssioun).
Every year on Whit Tuesday, thousands of pilgrims and other participants come together in the medieval town centre of Echternach in honour of Saint Willibrord, the patron saint of Luxembourg. The procession features various groups of musicians and dancers who hop sideways and forward through the town's streets, passing Saint Willibrord's tomb. The event concludes with a religious service in the basilica. In 2010, UNESCO recognised the hopping procession of Echternach as part of the "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity".
This year's procession started around 09:30 and finished around 13:00. Notable participants included Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and his wife, Princess Stéphanie, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, as well as the Mayor of Echternach, Carole Hartmann, Luxembourg's Minister for Home Affairs, Léon Gloden, and several ambassadors - including the British and Irish Ambassadors to Luxembourg.
A visiting 20-strong delegation from County Carlow, Ireland, also took part in the hopping procession, once again highlighting the historic links between Carlow and Echternach - Saint Willibrord was trained and ordained in Carlow; he went on to establish a monastery in Echternach, where he was later buried. A County Carlow delegation had taken part in last year's hopping procession as well.
