Compostela question

[Kelownagurl]

When arriving in Santiago, my understanding is that you only get a Compostela (in Latin) if you are doing the Camino for religious reasons. Otherwise, you get a certificate in English. Is this correct? And if so, do you get both at the pilgrim's office?

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Tincatinker]

A Compostella is given to those who walked for religious or spiritual reasons (and who ask for one). The Certificate of Distance is for the sporty types . More here
New Compostela and Certificate

 

[Kelownagurl]

Thank you! I tried unsuccessfully to search for this info.

 

[SYates]

And the link @Tincatinker menat to post is --- http://peregrinossantiago.es/eng/pilgrimage/the-compostela/
Buen Camino, SY

 

[billmclaughlin]

Thanks for supplying that missing link. I especially enjoyed discovering that the SdC pilgrim office doesn't acknowledge 2016 as a Holy Year:

"The last Holy Year was in 2010 and the next is in 2021. During Holy Years there is a considerable increase in the numbers of pilgrims to Santiago who may enter the Cathedral by the “Holy Door” which is only opened during that year."

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

When arriving in Santiago, my understanding is that you only get a Compostela (in Latin) if you are doing the Camino for religious reasons. Otherwise, you get a certificate in English. Is this correct? And if so, do you get both at the pilgrim's office?

The quotes below are from the Camino Ways webpage that describes (and has images of) the passports, certificates and compostellas. http://caminoways.com/walking-the-camino-passports-certificates-and-compostelas

The ‘Compostela’ is the original religious certificate written in Latin.

Pilgrims travelling for sport or cultural reasons can obtain a non-religious version of the Compostela, called Certificate of Welcome, also from the Pilgrims Office in Santiago (Rúa do Vilar). The same rule of 100km for walkers and 200km for cyclists and horse riders apply for this certificate.

Both the Compostela and Certificate of Welcome were redesigned in May 2014 and both documents are now written in Latin. Compostelas and certificates are issued to pilgrims, on a donation basis, by the Pilgrims Office in Santiago.