cross on camino

[Pasha]

I have seen pictures of a cross drooped with what look like people's personal items.. can anyone tell me more about this? I presume people leave something behind when walking but what's the meaning behind it?

 

[David]

Hi Pasha, I don't know which particular cross you mean but you will find many shrines and crosses along the Camino and just about all of them have offerings of some sort left by them - the common being adding a stone and/or a small cross made out of twigs .. then you will see a single boot - why one boot? no idea at all!!

 

[notion900]

I think you mean the Cruz de Hierro in Foncebadón. It has stones piled up and lots of personal bits and pieces. People leave the stones as a symbol of unburdening themselves from problems and sins. They are usually small stones brought from home, although I did see many big rocks there too, which I assume were local! The memorabilia are sometimes mementoes of people who have died, or just fun souvenirs. It means whatever you choose it to mean.

 

[Pasha]

Hi Pasha, I don't know which particular cross you mean but you will find many shrines and crosses along the Camino and just about all of them have offerings of some sort left by them - the common being adding a stone and/or a small cross made out of twigs .. then you will see a single boot - why one boot? no idea at all!!

Thanks David... a girl I know walked from sarria and she sent me a picture I'll try send it if I can find it but it seemed more like scarfs or that kind of thing I'll try find it

 

[Kanga]

No matter what the sentiment, anything manufactured just becomes litter.

 

[Pasha]

Hi Pasha, I don't know which particular cross you mean but you will find many shrines and crosses along the Camino and just about all of them have offerings of some sort left by them - the common being adding a stone and/or a small cross made out of twigs .. then you will see a single boot - why one boot? no idea at all!!

 

[notion900]

Oh that is another cross. Some of the ones you see may be a place where someone died. It then becomes a mini version of the Cruz de Hierro. There are tons of places where people make informal shrines, artworks and other 'interventions' in the landscape. I found it extremely nice to see them all. You feel all the people who went before you. There is no overall meaning or purpose. It's just human nature to add something to a shrine, has been since prehistory.

 

[David]

No matter what the sentiment, anything manufactured just becomes litter.

Yes, art galleries and museums are full of litter too - and look at Pompeii!!

 

[Kanga]

I am referring to stuff left on the camino. With 200,000 people all convinced that one of the rituals is to leaving something behind.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

The Cruz the Ferro and this thing about leaving stuff on it really is not an ancient tradition but something that came along with the touristy development of the Camino. It is now a mess left for the locals to clean up. Same goes for the burning of clothese in Fisterra (which is actually illegal).

There will be of sweatdrops left as you walk, footprints as well, candles to be lit in churches. 300 000 people do not need to each leave a momento of their passage on the Caminos.

Leaving no traces is probably the most meaningful proof of one's connection to, and understanding of, the Camino.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

As a Ditch-Pig Cleanup Busybody, I've cleared up tons of left-behind "mementos" on the camino. I've been confronted by people who consider this a desecration of their sacred offering at a sacred place.
IMHO, once you leave Uncle Fred's shoelace among the busted boots and neon Crocs and faded ribbons on the trail, you've just added more junk to the eyesore. One man's holy relic is another man's refuse. It's not going to stay there forever.
Be prepared, Scouts.

 

[Pasha]

As a Ditch-Pig Cleanup Busybody, I've cleared up tons of left-behind "mementos" on the camino. I've been confronted by people who consider this a desecration of their sacred offering at a sacred place.
IMHO, once you leave Uncle Fred's shoelace among the busted boots and neon Crocs and faded ribbons on the trail, you've just added more junk to the eyesore. One man's holy relic is another man's refuse. It's not going to stay there forever.
Be prepared, Scouts.

That is such a coincidence Rebekah.. I was literally just reading a thread where your name popped up twice.. I was about to check out "living the dream" then your comment came thru
I will take all said into consideration tho

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Hummm... when are the DPs going out this year? And how much walking is there a day? Certainly less than walking. Maybe my bad knee would like to go to Spain and clean up a tad...

 

[CaminoDebrita]

As a Ditch-Pig Cleanup Busybody, I've cleared up tons of left-behind "mementos" on the camino. I've been confronted by people who consider this a desecration of their sacred offering at a sacred place.
IMHO, once you leave Uncle Fred's shoelace among the busted boots and neon Crocs and faded ribbons on the trail, you've just added more junk to the eyesore. One man's holy relic is another man's refuse. It's not going to stay there forever.
Be prepared, Scouts.

Here, here. Well said. I thought about you today, Rebekah, as I did a ditch-pig operation at the state park where I work. As I completely cleaned an off-road toilet area of all that stuff, grimacing, I thought, "I'm a Ditch Pig!" and that ain't all bad.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Just like Kanga said!

 

[Tincatinker]

"I'm a Ditch Pig!" and that ain't all bad.

Welcome to the club @CaminoDebrita Ditch Pig status is worth having. Its what they used to call me when I was a kid because of who I was and how we lived. Ditch-pig, scum, low-life and plenty of other names and terms I won't post here because that abuse of language is dead or at least dieing. I got proud to be a Ditch Pig and I got prouder still when I met Reb and when we were down there in the ditches, hauling it out. And I realised that I could do what many have done before - claim my name. My brother got a bit mad at me when he heard me call myself Ditch Pig but then he listened as I told him why - and then he laughed. And then we took a couple of bags out along the back lanes to his local pub and we 'Pigged' it and we put the stuff we'd 'Pigged' into the dumpster in the car park and then we drank some cider and then we went home. So now my brother is proud to be a Ditch Pig and you are proud to be a Ditch Pig and the only ones who can ever be shamed are those that are not proud to be Ditch Pigs.

Welcome to the ditch amiga

 

[VNwalking]

Ditch pigging can be done anywhere and anytime. Watch out though - it can become a compulsion.
I did a little bit of pigging on the Frances from Pamplona this May and now can't stop myself.
Well, too bad more people aren't addicted.

(Now we know where all this technical terminology has come from, @Tincatinker. I'm very sorry you got called those awful names, but how great that you've turned this particular one into the badge of honor that it is. Ditch pigs are sterling citizens!)