Translation please

[coober]

hello,

could some kind soul tell me the meaning of "Ultreia" as seen at the end of some posts on this forum.

thanks
David

 

[Theatregal]

Hi David,
I've understood it to mean "Onward!" or "Upward!".
Ultreia!

 

[VNwalking]

Check out this YouTube link:

It has both a translation and a lovely little video set to a recording of the old French chanson

 

[Maryimelda]

Many years ago I read somewhere (it may have been in Shirley MacLaine's book) that it meant something like "Go forward with courage". Very fitting I think, if in fact it is true and I would like to think it is, as it is something that I have always remembered and have tried to live by.

 

[SYates]

The full expression used is ultreia et suseia and is 'street Latin' like used by the medieval pilgrims. It means 'onward and upwards'. Buen Camino, SY

 

[Kanga]

I've heard it translated as "Go Beyond!" and that's what I choose. It seems the perfect greeting for a pilgrim.

 

[Sheffield James]

I've also seen it spelt Ultreya. Is this the Spanish spelling (accepting ultrreia to be 'street Latin', as per SYates'post above)?

 

[SYates]

I have also seen this spelling Ultreïa I guess it depends on how the, mostly spoken Street Latin was transcribed over the ages and in the different language groups. Lets not forget that proper, unified spelling is a pretty recent invention ;-) SY

 

[VNwalking]

I've heard it translated as "Go Beyond!" and that's what I choose. It seems the perfect greeting for a pilgrim.

How incredibly Buddhist.
The mantra from the Heart Sutra is translated by the Dalai Lama as: "Go, go, go beyond, go thoroughly beyond, and establish yourself in enlightenment"
There are differences in religions--that's not to be denied or glossed over into some kind of fuzzy new age unity--but there are also uncanny parallels sometimes.
And how perfect a greeting...and wish for each other:
Ultreia!

 

[jmcarp]

Check out this YouTube link:

It has both a translation and a lovely little video set to a recording of the old French chanson

We were introduced to the song by Dan (the creator of the YouTube video and the voice in the video) during a magical evening spent at the tiny albergue built into the ruins of the Convento de San Antón in early September, 2013. That evening remains one of our most endearing memories of the Camino. Thanks for reposting the link and allowing me to once again re-live that moment.

 

[NavyBlue]

Hello,

It's generally accepted that ultreia derives from Latin ultra "beyond, further".
In medieval French oultre, modern French outre, used for instance in outre-mer "overseas".

a lovely little video set to a recording of the old French chanson

As explained (in French) by Jean-Claude Bénazet, songwriter and composer, in this video, the lines have been written by himself in 1989, while the refrain is to be found in Dum Pater Familias from Codex Calextinus.

 

[pudgypilgrim]

Yes, NavyBlue, you're right about the song, but back in the 60s/70s my parents were involved with the Cursillo movement, and one of their things was called the Ultreya. That's the earliest use of the word I know of. I'd really like an original source for it as being medieval. Anyone got one?

Edit: Hmm, so it's in the Codex Calextinus, then? Interesting.

 

[SYates]

Yes, NavyBlue, you're right about the song, but back in the 60s/70s my parents were involved with the Cursillo movement, and one of their things was called the Ultreya. That's the earliest use of the word I know of. I'd really like an original source for it as being medieval. Anyone got one?

Edit: Hmm, so it's in the Codex Calextinus, then? Interesting.

Yes, it is part of the refrain/chorus (not sure about the proper terminology) of the Dum Pater Familias, see https://la.wikisource.org/wiki/Dum_pater_familias and a bit of background info here: https://www.savarese.org/music/DumPaterFamilias.html

Buen Camino, SY

 

[SYates]

I also heard the interpretation of G(r)ot standing for Great ;-) some transcriptions of the hymn I have seen read 'grot Santiago' which would be closer to great than to good. Oh the joy of medieval linguistics ;-) SY

 

[SYates]

Very true @Kathar1na
Also I do have an awful lot of dead tree resources regarding the Camino and related topics piled up around me ;-) SY

 

[coober]

Thanks everyone for the answers.

onwards and upwards
David

 

[Bogong]

hello,

could some kind soul tell me the meaning of "Ultreia" as seen at the end of some posts on this forum.

thanks
David

Hola David,

"Ultreya" also has a particular significance for Christians, which is linked closely to Santiago de Compostela. The Cursillo movement, founded I believe in that city, is a three-day weekend time of refreshment and encouragement. It's known as Cursillo in the Catholic and Anglican denominations, and in some other denominations as the Emmaus Walk. The "Ultreya" is the final farewell session generally early morning before the new cursillistas leave for home. They enter the session room to be surprised, greeted, and welcomed by numbers of earlier cursillistas who have travelled there, some from far afield, to support and encourage them.

"Onward and upward" is particularly apt for such a session.

And to close:

De colores, David.

Bogong