For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Sounds like a dumb question perhaps, but just curious, if you attend mass in SDC, and are lucky enough to see the botofumeria swing, can you actually smell the incense? I see big clouds of smoke coming from it, so presumably you'd be able to smell it, but because it's swinging up above the people it's possible that not a lot of the scent reaches the people below.
I'm a bit of an incense collector, with various types from all over the world, so I'm hoping to see the botofumeria, but also smell it. I want to lock that smell in and link it with my memory (smell is one of the strongest memory recalls).
Thanks - I copied the (misspelled) word from another post.
Thanks for the tip to wait in the pews for awhile after for the scent to descend. And yes, I anticipate it will be a cheap type of incense, given the quantity. I'm curious how the smell compares to cheap incense that gets burned in temples and shrines all over asia.Yes, you smell it if you're really near the bota, and if you are patient.
It takes a little while for the really heavy part of the scent to fall back down from the ceiling. If you stay a little while in your pew once Mass finishes, esp. if you sit in the crossing, you'll get a full blanket of scent. I do not think it's rare and wonderful aloes and essences, because they use it in such quantities!
It pays to be contemplative.
Curious how you know which side of the alter is north?On my three visits to Santiago I have been fortunate to see the botofumeiro awing three times. I have always sat on the north side of the alter and the smell of the incense was quite strong. But I agree with Reb - those down the back may not get the full waft.
Older churches in western Europe are generally aligned so that the altar is at the east end of the building. Even where the geography of the site does not allow for precise alignments the altar end of the building is conventionally called "east". In a traditional cross-shaped cathedral like Santiago the main door is in the west facade, the two transepts are north and south. When standing in the nave of the church facing the altar north will therefore be to your left.Curious how you know which side of the alter is north?
Excellent. Having gown up catholic (albeit in Canada, not Europe) you would think I'd have already known that! Thanks for teaching me something new.Older churches in western Europe are generally aligned so that the altar is at the east end of the building. Even where the geography of the site does not allow for precise alignments the altar end of the building is conventionally called "east". In a traditional cross-shaped cathedral like Santiago the main door is in the west facade, the two transepts are north and south. When standing in the nave of the church facing the altar north will therefore be to your left.
Sounds like a dumb question perhaps, but just curious, if you attend mass in SDC, and are lucky enough to see the botafumeiro swing, can you actually smell the incense? I see big clouds of smoke coming from it, so presumably you'd be able to smell it, but because it's swinging up above the people it's possible that not a lot of the scent reaches the people below.
I'm a bit of an incense collector, with various types from all over the world, so I'm hoping to see the botafumeiro, but also smell it. I want to lock that smell in and link it with my memory (smell is one of the strongest memory recalls).
When I attended mass at the Cathedral late 2022, I was initially seated at the left side (facing the altar). Hoping to have a better view of the swinging of the Botafumeiro, and the mass service, I moved to the center pews. Needless to say, when the swinging of the Botafumeiro happened, I did not see its entire beautiful evolution. I realized later that they will not swing the Botafumeiro towards the altar!Curious how you know which side of the alter is north?
When I was there it smelled a lot. Historically it was used to mask foul smelling pilgrims lolSounds like a dumb question perhaps, but just curious, if you attend mass in SDC, and are lucky enough to see the botafumeiro swing, can you actually smell the incense? I see big clouds of smoke coming from it, so presumably you'd be able to smell it, but because it's swinging up above the people it's possible that not a lot of the scent reaches the people below.
I'm a bit of an incense collector, with various types from all over the world, so I'm hoping to see the botafumeiro, but also smell it. I want to lock that smell in and link it with my memory (smell is one of the strongest memory recalls).
Curious how you know which side of the alter is north?
Well - the Cathedral - like almost all catholic churches runs East - West with the alter at the Eastern end. So as you face the alter North is on your left. Plus I have been to Santiago enough times to know where North is. Additionally in 2015 during works on the Cathedral "Portico de Gloria"(West door) all paritioners were entering via the South doors and exiting via the North doors. Hope this explains. CheersCurious how you know which side of the alter is north?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?