On Thursday 16th of June, Corpus Christi Day, at 11 am the egg will be presented and blessed in the cloister of the Basilica of Santa Maria de la Seu of Manresa. The fountain crowned with an egg and decorated with white and red flowers can be seen during the opening hours of the temple: fom Monday to Friday from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm and from 4 pm to 7 pm; on Saturday from 10.30 am to 2 pm and from 4 pm to 7 pm and on Sunday from 12 pm to 2 pm and from 5 pm to 7 pm.
In 2018, the tradition of installing the “ou com balla” in the cloister of the temple was revived after being suppressed for more than 35 years. A group of people from Manresa linked to the associationism proposed its recovery and, with the support of the basilica, installed the fountain in the neo-Gothic cloister of the temple. Since then, its installation was canceled only in 2020 due to restrictions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The tradition of the “ou com balla”
It is said that the origins of this tradition date back to the 15th and 17th centuries in the Cathedral of Barcelona, from where it spread.
This practice takes place 60 days after Easter Sunday, the day of Corpus Christi. The most widespread interpretation is that the egg symbolizes the Eucharist during the Corpus and the shape of the water the chalice of Christ’s blood. There are other theories that the egg, water and flowers that decorate the fountain symbolize the fullness of spring.
Corpus at the Seu
In addition to the “ou com balla”, on Sunday 19th of June at 11am a solemn Eucharist will be celebrated with the presbyters of Manresa with the accompaniment of the Seu’s Music Chapel. After the mass, a procession around the Basilica will be held.
