In the forested hills of northern Poland, Catholics gathered on Sunday (May 17) for a unique annual tradition which involves bowing, waving and dancing with sacred artworks.

The sacred 'feretrons' bear images of saints, martyrs and scenes from the Bible. Some weigh as much as 120 kg (265 lbs). The tradition of dancing—or 'bowing'—the feretrons has deep roots in northern Poland's Kashubian ethnic region and is a centre-piece of the annual pilgrimage to the religious site at Wejherowo Calvary.

Some feretrons are carried for miles as pilgrims make their way on foot from towns around the region.

But for some faithful, the eye-catching tradition is a step too far.

"People who see this kind of dance for the first time don't take it very well," says 18-year-old feretron bearer Dominik Palubicki, "they criticise our behaviour, suggesting we have no respect for the Virgin Mary."

But for Dominik, the tradition is a way to express his faith and celebrate Kashubian culture.

"We don't go out of obligation, but out of desire. We go willingly, without any rewards or anything, we simply go," he says.

For pilgrims like 90-year-old Zofia Chojnicka, who walked part of the pilgrimage trail from Oliwa Cathedral in Gdansk, the feretron dance is a highlight of the weekend-long event.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

WEJHEROWO, POLAND (MAY 17, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. PERFORMERS 'BOWING' WITH SACRED 'FERETRON' AT 'CALVARY WEJHEROWO' RELIGIOUS SITE DURING ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE

2. BAND PLAYING

3. PERFORMERS CARRYING FERETRON

4. VARIOUS OF TEAMS PERFORMING FERETRON DANCE

5. CROWD WATCHING

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) FERETRON BEARER DOMINIK PALUBICKI, AGE 18, SAYING:

"Our feretron weighs about 40-50 kg. However, there are some feretrons, such as the one from Koscierzyna, which weighs 120 kg. And it's quite a challenge to operate and dance with such a feretron."

7. PERFORMERS BOWING WITH FERETRON FROM OLIWA CATHEDRAL WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 120KG (265 LBS), THE OLDEST FERETRON AT THE EVENT

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) FERETRON BEARER DOMINIK PALUBICKI, AGE 18, SAYING:

"The tradition of feretron bowing dates back to the 19th or 18th century. And here, mostly bachelors and single women participate in this bowing, carrying images on pilgrimages and similar church celebrations, such as Corpus Christi."

9. BAND / PERFORMERS BOWING FERETRON IN TRADITIONAL DRESS

10. BAND

11. CROWD

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) FERETRON BEARER DOMINIK PALUBICKI, AGE 18, SAYING:

"People who see this kind of dance for the first time don't take it very well. You could even say they criticise our behaviour, suggesting we have no respect for the Virgin Mary and the like. Comments vary."

13. VARIOUS OF FERETRON DANCES

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) FERETRON BEARER DOMINIK PALUBICKI, AGE 18, SAYING:

"We are proud to even be able to participate in such an important event as a pilgrimage and feretron bows. We don't go out of obligation, but out of desire. We go willingly, without any rewards or anything, we simply go."

15. FERETRON DANCE OUTSIDE CHURCH EARLIER IN THE DAY

16. (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) 90-YEAR-OLD CATHOLIC PILGRIM FROM GDANSK, ZOFIA CHOJNICKA, SAYING:

"I really like it (Feretron dancing). For example, the one from Oliwa (Cathedral in Gdansk) is very heavy, because it weighed 125 kg— I think some say it was more like over 100 kg—but take a painting like that and wave it, they're bowing it side to side, as if they were making a cross with it. And in any case, it's very heavy. And now it's been restored, completely restored, it's very beautiful."

17. FERETRON DANCE WITH IMAGE OF POPE JOHN PAUL II