On the way to the Echternach jumping procession

According to legend, the origins of the Echternach jumping procession lie in the Prümtal municipality. A sandstone plaque on the parish church says that around the year 728, St. Willibrord preached to dancing wicked people in Waxweiler and ordered them to dance to the Buss in Echternach as a punishment.

The pilgrimage on foot that developed from this has survived over the centuries. However, as the jumping procession was banned in the 18th century, the large flow of pilgrims dried up. It was not until 1860 that it was revived, initially from Waxweiler. A year later, the participants from Prüm joined in. They united to form a large procession whose destination was the tomb of St. Willibrord in Echternach. And since then, this unity that binds the faithful together has been practiced to this day.

The Echternach jumping procession is part of the intangible world cultural heritage!

On Pentecost Sunday, 08.06.2025, pilgrims will once again set off from Prüm-Waxweiler on their pilgrimage to Echternach according to tradition. After a short prayer, the pilgrims will set off from the Salvator Basilica in Prüm at 12:55 pm. The pilgrims march via Niederprüm, Pronsfeld and Lünebach to Waxweiler. In the respective villages, the pilgrims are accompanied by the local music association.

On Whit Monday there is a pilgrimage service in Waxweiler at 6:00 am. At 7:00 a.m. it goes via Krautscheid, "In die Wahl" to Neuerburg. There will be a short prayer service in Wahl at around 9.30 am with the blessing of the restored cross. There will be a lunch break in Neuerburg. The onward march is scheduled for 13:00. Via Sinspelt, Mettendorf, Nusbaum, "Schwarzes Buch" we go to Bollendorf. We will also be accompanied on the way by local music societies.
On Whit Tuesday, we will set off from Bollendorf at 5:50 a.m. to arrive at the bridge at the border crossing to Echternach at around 7:30 a.m.. Here, the pilgrims will be welcomed by a delegation from the Echternach Willibrord Bauverein and led into the church in Echternach. The return journey is on Tuesday from 13:30 from the parking lot at Fölkelbach (between Bollendorf and Echternacherbrück). A bus is available here for the return journey (only with advance reservation).

Detailed information about the foot pilgrimage is available on 0171-6019227 or 0160-95505606 or info@springprozession.com.