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Holy Days celebrated at Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

rabtacoma

Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Leon to Santiago October 2019
My husband and I walked from Leon to Santiago in October 2019 intending to return in 2020 for the first half. We are now planning that return of SJPDP to Leon in April/May 2022. As the Cathederal was under construction when we were there, even though we will end in Leon, we intend to take the train to Santiago to attend Mass in the Cathederal. I am trying to tie that with a Holy Day so I can experience botafumeiro. In the Cathederal website they list Appearance of the Apostle-Clavijo: Monday, May 23. I am unfamiliar with that saint day and am trying to discern if that feast day is ever moved to a Sunday? Also, is the Holy Day of Obligation for Pentacost ever moved to another day in Spain? In the States we move some Holy Days to the previous or past Sunday if it is close (i.e. Ascention Thursday is sometimes moved to Sunday).
Any past exepeience or "crystal ball guess" for 2022 would be apprecaited.
Gracias
 
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My husband and I walked from Leon to Santiago in October 2019 intending to return in 2020 for the first half. We are now planning that return of SJPDP to Leon in April/May 2021. As the Cathederal was under construction when we were there, even though we will end in Leon, we intend to take the train to Santiago to attend Mass in the Cathederal. I am trying to tie that with a Holy Day so I can experience botafumeiro. In the Cathederal website they list Appearance of the Apostle-Clavijo: Monday, May 23. I am unfamiliar with that saint day and am trying to discern if that feast day is ever moved to a Sunday? Also, is the Holy Day of Obligation for Pentacost ever moved to another day in Spain? In the States we move some Holy Days to the previous or past Sunday if it is close (i.e. Ascention Thursday is sometimes moved to Sunday).
Any past exepeience or "crystal ball guess" for 2021 would be apprecaited.
Gracias
Pentecost is already on a Sunday. (The days only seem to get "off" when the local big shots move Ascension Thursday to the following Sunday.)
Clavijo is discussed in the book Gitliz and Davidson wrote about the Cultural and Historical and Art angle of the Frances. It was very interesting...I bought it again in Kindle format as the paperback is thick and heavy. It isn't a guide to where you can sleep and eat, it's a guide to the various things you encounter on the French route. (Both beginnings are covered.)
I wish other routes had as comprehensive a Cultural and Historical and Art guide.

BC
 
Wow, that's some question. It's a bit like asking how many orders of French nuns are there! Even God has lost track.

I know that the Bishops of England and Wales have fixed Ascension Thursday on a Thursday. No vigil Masses on a Wednesday to cover it either, much to the dissapointment of a large gathering at the usual Wednesday evening Mass the year before last. But in Spain? A Spanish Liturgical calendar might help. The one I've just looked at has Ascension Thursday on a Sunday.
The one certainty is that Pentecost Sunday will be on a Sunday and you'll have nice red vestments.

( I'm not even sure that May 23rd is a Monday this year? )

I think you're going to need advice from someone "on the ground" for this one.

Here's a link to the liturgical calander for Santiago
 
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Pentecost is already on a Sunday. (The days only seem to get "off" when the local big shots move Ascension Thursday to the following Sunday.)
Clavijo is discussed in the book Gitliz and Davidson wrote about the Cultural and Historical and Art angle of the Frances. It was very interesting...I bought it again in Kindle format as the paperback is thick and heavy. It isn't a guide to where you can sleep and eat, it's a guide to the various things you encounter on the French route. (Both beginnings are covered.)
I wish other routes had as comprehensive a Cultural and Historical and Art guide.

BC
Yes Thank you. I spaced on Pentacost -- It's a safe bet. I realize I'm being a bit of a baby but I don't do well in heat (I'm from Seattle) and I'm a little concern about finishing off the maseta in late May early June.
 
In the Cathederal website they list Appearance of the Apostle-Clavijo: Monday, May 23.
There's something wrong because the 23rd of May 2021 is a Sunday. And it is Whitsun Sunday (Pentecost) this year.

Have a look at https://anosantocompostelano.org/event/solemnidad-de-pentecostes/ and https://anosantocompostelano.org/event/aparicion-del-apostol-santiago-en-clavijo/

Have a look at the other special days like 6 Jan, 4 April (Easter), 16 May (Ascension), 25 July (Saint James), and so on. The website is © Archidiócesis de Santiago de Compostela.

My guess is that the Botafumeiro will swing (at the beginning or during mass, not at the end of mass) whenever there is mention of a Procesión solemne.

My second guess is that the Botafumeiro will swing on Monday 24 May because an individual or a group will pay for it.
 
I apologize I messed ed up my year date. I am looking at 2022. I know it's far ahead but I need something good to think about today. I edited my question. Thank you for catching that
 
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I apologize I messed ed up my year date. I am looking at 2022. I know it's far ahead but I need something good to think about today. I edited my question. Thank you for catching that
OK, then we are speaking about Monday 23 May (Apparition), Thursday 26 May (Ascension) and Whitsun/Pentecost Sunday on 5 June. 5 June is a safe bet for the Botafumeiro. It's always on a Sunday and an important day in the liturgical calendar. About the other two, I am not so sure. I don't have complete faith in the standard list of standard Botafumeiro swinging days that gets copied year after year on websites. And although 2022 is now also a Holy Year, the Archidiócesis de Santiago de Compostela has not yet extended their events calendar on https://anosantocompostelano.org/event/ into the year 2022 ...

I have a vague memory that in Spain and in Santiago, Ascension is not celebrated in church on the Thursday (Ascension is always on a Thursday) but on the following Sunday. As to Apparition ... no idea ... same day when it falls on a Monday, or nearest Sunday, or following Sunday? As I mentioned before, May is a very popular month for pilgrims and other visitors to the Cathedral who often pay to see/have the Botafumeiro swing and I am very confident that you will manage to see it in 2022. ☺️

PS: Easter Sunday is fairly late in 2022: 17th of April.
 
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