Oktav: Pilgrimage & Octave Market at Luxembourg Cathedral

Known locally as Oktav, the Octave pilgrimage is the biggest religious event in Luxembourg. It takes place every year in Luxembourg City, between the 3rd and 5th Sundays after Easter.

The Octave pilgrimage is accompanied by the Octave market or Maërtchen in Luxembourgish. 

This year's Octave pilgrimage will take place from April 20 to May 5, 2024. Originally lasting 8 days, the Octave now lasts two weeks.

Celebrated since the 17th century, the Oktav today attracts some 90,000 pilgrims. From all over the region, the faithful come to pay homage to the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, patron saint of the country and comforter of the afflicted.

The origins of the Octave pilgrimage

As the plague raged in Luxembourg in 1666, believers came to beg a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, endowed with miraculous powers, to heal the sick.

Subsequently, the old wooden statue, originally erected on the Glacis(Luxembourg-Limpertsberg), was moved inside the city. Since then, the statue of Notre-Dame de Luxembourg has been on permanent display in Luxembourg Cathedral on a gilded pedestal. The statue is still the object of great religious fervor today.

The Octave pilgrimage lasts 2 weeks. It usually takes place in April or May. It begins on the 3rd weekend after Easter.

During the Octave pilgrimage, pilgrims gather to pay homage, say prayers and ask for blessings.

The Octave experience today in Luxembourg

Since the 17th century, the Octave or "Oktav" pilgrimage has been followed with great enthusiasm. Originally a purely religious event, it has evolved into a traditional gathering of pilgrims and visitors, curious about history and folklore.

During the Octave, pilgrims come from all over Luxembourg and the Greater Region to pray to the Virgin Mary. They gather at Luxembourg Cathedral and take part in various religious ceremonies and processions during the two weeks of the Octave. The atmosphere is one of devotion, unity and joy. For the occasion, the cathedral is richly decorated and the statue of St. Mary Consoler dressed in festive garments.

A grand procession marks the end of the two-week Octave pilgrimage. The faithful, dressed in traditional costumes, carry the statue of the Virgin Mary through the streets of Luxembourg City. Religious songs and prayers accompany the procession. The grand-ducal family follows the procession, as do the country's political authorities.

Later, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, accompanied by the rest of the family, appear on the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace to greet the crowds in the Old Town district.

The Octave or "Maërtchen" market

Coming from far and wide, pilgrims attending the various religious celebrations had to feed themselves. From the very beginnings of the Octave, food stalls were set up in front of the cathedral to provide pilgrims with food. These were the beginnings of the Octave market or Mäertchen.

The small food stalls of the traditional Octave pilgrimage are now part of a large market, the "Maërtchen". Set up on the large Place Guillaume II or Knuedler and around Luxembourg Cathedral, the Octave market attracts the faithful, but not only. More widely, families living in Luxembourg and beyond take part in the festivities. Visitors can take advantage of the gastronomic stalls, the merry-go-rounds set up for the occasion on the Place de la Constitution and the various entertainment on offer.

The Maërtchen is part of Luxembourg's spiritual and cultural heritage. It has become a key element of local folklore.

The Octave pilgrimage in Luxembourg combines spirituality, history and cultural celebrations. But it's not the only event of its kind in Luxembourg.

The Our Lady of Fatima pilgrimage to Wiltz also celebrates Luxembourg's religious values.

Similarly, and uniquely, the Echternach dance procession is listed as a Unesco intangible heritage site. Take part and discover the customs and traditions of Luxembourg.