- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances(12), Portuguese(13), Finisterre(13), Norte
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I do understand that inflation has increased significantly pretty much worldwide: global oil prices; war in Ukraine; post-pandemic increase in demand; shortage of chips etc etc.First off THANK YOU to all Groups and Pilgrims that had the Botafumerio swung during the month of May for it was swung 40+ times which is great.
Starting June 1st the cost rose from 450 Euro to 500 Euro and since the Camino is becoming so busy reservations for your special occasion should be made well in advance.
And perhaps a little simplistic. There are lots of associated costs to consider such as maintenance and repairs, cleaning, insurance, security etc.Why would the cost of eight blokes tugging on a rope have gone up by 11%?
It’s a rhetorical question really
After completing my CF from SJPP two weeks ago , I stayed three days in Santiago and every day I went to the Mass, hoping and searching for the group who.. (or the Cathedral will swing the BOTAFUMEIRO,..) may need another person , for cost reason to join them , because I wanted to see the BOTAFUMEIRO swinging , and I could not find any group and I was not able to see it in person. I was willing to pay 50 Euros but 450/500 Euros were not in my budget.I do understand that inflation has increased significantly pretty much worldwide: global oil prices; war in Ukraine; post-pandemic increase in demand; shortage of chips etc etc.
Why would the cost of eight blokes tugging on a rope have gone up by 11%?
It’s a rhetorical question really - the answer is probably ‘because it can’.
Just turn up whenever you see a well-appointed tour-group arrive is my advice for seeing the thing swing.
I agree … average 1300 -1500 pilgrims arriving everyday … how much has each of us spent from day one to arrive at the Cathedral.. and get our Compostelas ( ok during Corona there was a standstill ..)I do understand that inflation has increased significantly pretty much worldwide: global oil prices; war in Ukraine; post-pandemic increase in demand; shortage of chips etc etc.
Why would the cost of eight blokes tugging on a rope have gone up by 11%?
It’s a rhetorical question really - the answer is probably ‘because it can’.
Just turn up whenever you see a well-appointed tour-group arrive is my advice for seeing the thing swing.
Captain Bonnie ,I agree … average 1300 -1500 pilgrims arriving everyday … how much has each of us spent from day one to arrive at the Cathedral.. and get our Compostelas ( ok during Corona there was a standstill ..)
I know the security at the entrance needs to be strict but I wonder if a few of the security really realise the trudge heave and panting we undertook to arrive there ( we did not just walk around the block and arrive )….with so much revenue coming in the Botufumeiro ceremony should be gratis .. I love Santiago de Compostela and will keep arriving as long as I can ..and indeed grateful to those who pay Euro 500 for the lucky / fortunate Peregrinos to be there .. at the right time..
Go Further.. Go Higher… Never Stop Walking Peregrino
Captain Bonnie
Mary, it’s not a show or carnival trick, there is much meaning, and history around it. I am sorry that you missed it and I pray that those in control would post a schedule when it will be swung. To schedule it it must be at least one week in advance Yes the walking of the Camino no matter which one is not only a thrill but a gift of a lifetime that we are able to do it with God in our heartsI was sad when it did not swing at the noon mass when I was there last week. And I was a little nonplussed when I heard it was swung at the 7:30 service. But that is just a show—a carnival trick—in comparison to the wonder of walking the CF. Now THAT was the thrill of a lifetime.
I was sad when it did not swing at the noon mass when I was there last week. And I was a little nonplussed when I heard it was swung at the 7:30 service. But that is just a show—a carnival trick—in comparison to the wonder of walking the CF. Now THAT was the thrill of a lifetime.
Maryloufrommedison ,I was sad when it did not swing at the noon mass when I was there last week. And I was a little nonplussed when I heard it was swung at the 7:30 service. But that is just a show—a carnival trick—in comparison to the wonder of walking the CF. Now THAT was the thrill of a lifetime.
On both of my completed Caminos, via De Plata, to the Via Sanabria over the Galician range to Santiago and Camino Norte, to the Primitivo, which joined Frances at the end to Santiago, I was fortunate to go to both Masses and see the Botafumero be swung. Just an FYI, every feast day it’s swung without any contribution. But you have to know the dates or hit it on a day where some group has paid for the pleasure.First off THANK YOU to all Groups and Pilgrims that had the Botafumerio swung during the month of May for it was swung 40+ times which is great.
Starting June 1st the cost rose from 450 Euro to 500 Euro and since the Camino is becoming so busy reservations for your special occasion should be made well in advance.
How exactly do you equate your trudging, heaving and panting, and the money you spent along the way, (presumably enjoying your camino?) with the cost of the botafumeiro and why would it be a concern of the security guys?I wonder if a few of the security really realise the trudge heave and panting we undertook to arrive there ( we did not just walk around the block and arrive )….with so much revenue coming in the Botufumeiro ceremony should be gratis .. I
To make a schedule to see the botafumiero would indeed make it an attraction which I believe it certainly is not. Somehow some of us are lucky to witness this magnificent gift but others just are not, no rhyme or reason. I would suggest however, that if you spend more than a day in Santiago you go to as many masses as you can morning noon or night and that would increase your chances as it did for me last October.Mary, it’s not a show or carnival trick, there is much meaning, and history around it. I am sorry that you missed it and I pray that those in control would post a schedule when it will be swung. To schedule it it must be at least one week in advance Yes the walking of the Camino no matter which one is not only a thrill but a gift of a lifetime that we are able to do it with God in our hearts
Voice to text sometimes does an adequate but not perfect job.I know I might sound pedantic but the correct spelling is :
Hurrah for St Custards! Those who pay for a private swinging must be as utterly wet and a weed as Basil Fotherington-Thomas.As ani fule no the Boatawotsit is swunged to mask the atmosphere of stinky pilgrims. So: if evry pilgrim stopped having showers or Baths after Sarria then it would be swunged evry day like the clappers just to save the holey joes from chokin on the mucky miasmas…
Meanwhile, respect to those willing to fund the spectacle and to those who pay attention to the religious calendar
The OP was helpfully reminding us of the procedure for sponsoring or commissioning the swinging of the Botafumeiro. If you have seen it swinging it may be because it was always going to happen or somebody has paid for it as an act of celebration, commemoration, to guarantee it as a highlight of their trip or for some other reason.Um, I don’t understand…. In the past, I just walked in. I’m seriously missing something here!!!
Me too... I have been lucky enough to walk into Santiago twice and both times enjoyed the spectacle of the botafumerio swinging ... no bookings and no cost. Does this mean that I was just lucky to stumble across a private swinging on both occasions? I will be there again in September, wonder what the chances of third time lucky will be??Um, I don’t understand…. In the past, I just walked in. I’m seriously missing something here!!!
So, the average person can’t go into the church and hear the nuns announce the countries that people have come from and see it swing? Really?Me too... I have been lucky enough to walk into Santiago twice and both times enjoyed the spectacle of the botafumerio swinging ... no bookings and no cost. Does this mean that I was just lucky to stumble across a private swinging on both occasions? I will be there again in September, wonder what the chances of third time lucky will be??
sad and pathetic , went three days to Santiago Cathedral mass after completing my first Camino at age 72 from SJPP, hoping luck will strike to see it swinging , but.. how many chances one have in life from afar ? I understand , it is at their discretion to make it swing or not. Disappointed yes, but the spiritual uplifting for completing the Camino will keep me up for a long time, life goes on !So, the average person can’t go into the church and hear the nuns announce the countries that people have come from and see it swing? Really?
Yes you can - it may be privately financed but it’s still a public service.So, the average person can’t go into the church and hear the nuns announce the countries that people have come from and see it swing? Really?
From the Cathedral site:I will be there again in September, wonder what the chances of third time lucky will be??
No! Where did this assumption come from? This thread is discussing only the swinging of the botafumeiro - something that is done at the end of some masses. The Pilgrim Mass is conducted every day on schedule and is open to the public.So, the average person can’t go into the church and hear the nuns announce the countries that people have come from and see it swing? Really?
sad and pathetic
Of course you are entitled to your opinion . We all do.No! Where did this assumption come from? This thread is discussing only the swinging of the botafumeiro - something that is done at the end of some masses. The Pilgrim Mass is conducted every day on schedule and is open to the public.
Missing this spectacle in life hardly ranks as sad and pathetic in my view.
The Botafumeiro operates during the following Solemnities:
The botafumeiro is swung earlier during the masses listed by @LavanyaLea but at the end of the other masses when it does swing. At the mass we attended I told Peg that they must be saving the botafumeiro for desert.This thread is discussing only the swinging of the botafumeiro - something that is done at the end of some masses.
I would have found it massively disappointing though. Before even thinking of walking the camino I would periodically see the botafumeiro being swung in a video (Rick Steves intros?). It was something that I thought I would love to see Only when on the camino did I learn that this happened in Santiago. Then I learned that in addition to the special masses it was also sponsored by some businesses on Fridays (2015). In my case seeing the spectacular was more important than reaching Santiago.Missing this spectacle in life hardly ranks as sad and pathetic in my view.
No but they do tell you which masses are available and thus those that are not have probably been reservedI wonder if anyone trying to "book" the botafumeiro ceremony for their arrival has ever been told "Oh, don't you worry, somebody else has already paid for that date and time."
I like your response. The botafumeiro did not swing when I went to the mass. I was sorry not to have the chance to see it, but the chance to walk the full Camino Frances was the gift of a lifetime. Nothing diminishes that.Once I let go expecting that things "should" unfold in a certain way (the way I wanted them to of course), a heavy load of angst lifted and the chip on my shoulder started to budge.
If one can't or won't pay to see the Botafumeiro swing, the options are to arrange to visit on a scheduled date or else hope to get lucky to be there when someone else has sponsored it.
If you've walked into Santiago and feel cheated and/or offended that the Botafumeiro did not swing, return to your starting point on the Camino and walk again.
Open to the public, but twice last week the doors were closed well before the mass because the Cathedral had reached 'capacity' and pilgrims who had planned to attend the mass could not. I suggest if you are in Santiago and plan to attend, be sure you are headed to the 7:30pm mass by 6:00. The same at noon... the Holy Door entrance had also been closed on and off and there was a line clear across the plaza at a stand still waiting for admission.No! Where did this assumption come from? This thread is discussing only the swinging of the botafumeiro - something that is done at the end of some masses. The Pilgrim Mass is conducted every day on schedule and is open to the public.
Missing this spectacle in life hardly ranks as sad and pathetic in my view.
They were in disbelief and tears that they could not get in for mass at 12:00 and at 19:30 I guess because they could have gotten in at 7:30 and at 9:30 without the slightest problem. I’ve frequently followed the livestream from the Cathedral in recent weeks and the Cathedral is far from full at those times.the Holy Door entrance had also been closed on and off and there was a line clear across the plaza at a stand still waiting for admission. It may be wise to include at least two full days in Santiago if your schedule allows to increase chances of attending a pilgrim mass or a chance to see the botafumeiro ( though the 7:00am was hardly attended on the three mornings I went ) There were many pilgrims in disbelief and tears that they could not get in.
They were in disbelief and tears that they could not get in for mass at 12:00 and at 19:30 I guess because they could have gotten in at 7:30 and at 9:30 without the slightest problem. I’ve frequently followed the livestream from the Cathedral in recent weeks and the Cathedral is far from full at those times.
Also, there is very rarely a long line at the Holy Door. Occasionally, I look at the webcam that shows the Holy Door entrance and I recall only one time recently where I noticed a line of people waiting to enter and it must have been around noon on a Sunday in June or May. Mostly, people arrive and walk straight through.
Arrival numbers of pilgrims registered at the Pilgrims Office are highest on Friday, high on Saturday and Sunday and significantly lower on other days. The same probably applies for the number of Spanish parish groups who travel to Santiago in this Holy Year and other visitors to Santiago who also go to mass at the Cathedra
I think the responsibility lies with you to remember your mask, not the cathedral authorities.On one intended visit I was at the entry at 10:45am and had lost my mask in getting to the cathedral and ran all the way to my room and back with the mask to find no more were allowed in.
Again, the responsibility to prioritise time lies with the individual pilgrim.They arrive at noon or later and are scheduled to leave the following day...not a lot of time in there to get compostela, secure accommodations, eat, clean up, get to mass...
Exactly, plan and allow some flexibility....Yes, disbelief and tears. My point is to make people aware so they can plan accordingly.
Why would the cost of eight blokes tugging on a rope have gone up by 11%?
It’s a rhetorical question really - the answer is probably ‘because it can’.
Nothing in life is free and the botafumeiro is no exception. The latest botafumeiro is an antiquity from the 1850s and there's considerable wear and tear because of its astonishing weight (62 kilos unloaded, 162cm tall) it has swang from the gothic structure for centuries, so that needs special reinforcement too. So the silver needs to be repaired, the chains, the structure supporting it, the pulley, the beams, etc. Add to that that that the cathedral just underwent extensive renovatios, the costs must keep climbing. There's many more costs associated to it, I don't know where I read this information but it seemed reasonable.. .with so much revenue coming in the Botufumeiro ceremony should be gratis ..
Please tell me the address of this camI’ve frequently followed the livestream from the Cathedral in recent weeks and the Cathedral is far from full at those times.
Not sure why you are seeking to assign fault or blame in my posts. No one said it was the Cathedral's responsibility to keep track of my mask. That's idiotic. The point was the door was open for entry and within 30 minutes closed due to capacity.I think the responsibility lies with you to remember your mask, not the cathedral authorities.
Again, the responsibility to prioritise time lies with the individual pilgrim.
Exactly, plan and allow some flexibility.
This is a busy time, don't expect to arrive late in the day and have everything waiting for you. You can do it early next morning.
There are no pilgrims' faces to watch. It is a live stream of the four daily Pilgrim Masses (image and sound). The camera is fixed. It shows the chancel (altar space).Please tell me the address of this camI love watching the pilgrims faces when they arrive
Walking the Camino ( from SJPP)at 72 ,in the first week of June 2022, was a gift, once in a life time, nothing could get that spiritual high . For, three days after completing my Camino , went to the mass, just to have a glimpse of the BOTAFUMEIRO, but was not lucky to witness it live. Oh well, Life goes on , every breath I take, will be grateful for completing the Camino. Buen Camino to all.So, last Friday (17.06.) we met with a friend that had just arrived. Then we went to have a few drinks. At around 19:10 we started walking to the cathedral, where there was not much of a queue at the side entrance (havnt checked the holy door). Inside was quite full, so we had to sit on the floor. We enjoyed the mass and at the end of it i could check the flying of the big pot of my bucket list.
It's impressive, but for myself the more impressive things happened on the way towards Santiago.
However, i guess i got lucky.
I love this! Well said!I was sad when it did not swing at the noon mass when I was there last week. And I was a little nonplussed when I heard it was swung at the 7:30 service. But that is just a show—a carnival trick—in comparison to the wonder of walking the CF. Now THAT was the thrill of a lifetime.
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