Half Way Certificate Compared to End Compostela

[Wanderingfriend]

I am not posting this to start a debate about the value of the compostela. For me, the certificate was meaningful and a treasure I will always cherish.

That being said, I find it interesting that the midway Compostella is a much nicer certificate. It is thicker and professional lettering, as compared to my end Compostella which is a flimsy piece of paper with a hand scrawled name on it. I am glad I got both.

 

[henrythedog]

Yes, I agree; it’s nice.

Whilst often described as a ‘halfway certificate’ it is made available to any who pass through Sahagun (the half-way point on the Frances, depending of course on what you consider to be the start point …) as opposed to those who might actually be half-way on their Camino.

Whatever, it’s splendid.

 

[K_Lynn]

The halfway certificate is prettier, but I prefer the compostela. I didn't even know there was a certificate in Sahagun until some people I knew blew by while I was enjoying a glass of wine saying they were on their way to get it lol.

I've meant to have them both framed, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. lol

 

[Flog]

I find it interesting that the midway Compostella is a much nicer certificate. It is thicker and professional lettering, as compared to my end Compostella which is a flimsy piece of paper with a hand scrawled name on it.

You do?
'Hand scrawled' is a bit harsh. Some who write your free compostela take pride in writing it and give up their time to do it for nothing.

 

[WalkinRon]

I was especially thankful to receive my halfway certificate in Sahagún since I ended up walking only from SJPP to Leon. I think it is mostly a fundraiser since they charge three euros and issue thousands each year. (The lady only glanced at my credencial del peregrino.) Nevertheless, I will treasure it always.

I look forward to the day, after I walk the second half, that it's joined by my Compostela!

 

[Wanderingfriend]

The halfway certificate is prettier, but I prefer the compostela. I didn't even know there was a certificate in Sahagun until some people I knew blew by while I was enjoying a glass of wine saying they were on their way to get it lol.

I've meant to have them both framed, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. lol

Just did it and they look beautiful.

 

[Tassie Kaz]

How long has the Sahagun certificate been on offer? I hadn't heard of it before & I'm almost certain it didn't exist in 2012 when I did the CF.
Is anyone willing to post a pic of their 'halfway' cert so we can see what it's like?

 

[dougfitz]

Some who write your free compostela take pride in writing it and give up their time to do it for nothing.

Every one of mine has had my name beautifully written in ink. I don't have a certificate from Sahagun, but my Muxiana and Fisterriana were both completed with felt tip pens that will eventually fade. Ink, unless it is registrar's ink, might eventually too, but I expect it will take longer.

In any case, what is important to me is the content, not whether one or other has different artwork or other production values. I would be happy for all of them to hang on my walls at home - I just have to get some framing done!

 

[dougfitz]

How long has the Sahagun certificate been on offer? I hadn't heard of it before & I'm almost certain it didn't exist in 2012 when I did the CF.
Is anyone willing to post a pic of their 'halfway' cert so we can see what it's like?

I am pretty sure it was available when I walked the CF in 2010. It wasn't important enough to me to stop in Sahagun to find it.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I've previously posted my translation of the "halfway" certificate here:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-trivia.67346/#post-844188

From the translation you can see that "halfway" is a misnomer.

 

[IngridF]

You do?
'Hand scrawled' is a bit harsh. Some who write your free compostela take pride in writing it and give up their time to do it for nothing.

Hmm, my handwriting might not be tgat great but I took a calligraphy course prior my service at the pilgrims office, as to pretty up my writing.

 

[NancyZ]

You do?
'Hand scrawled' is a bit harsh. Some who write your free compostela take pride in writing it and give up their time to do it for nothing.

Volunteers in the pilgrim’s office give up their time for 2 week increments.

 

[Former member 92300]

I feel the same way about the Muxiana - (or Fisterrana - not looking at them now but my memory is the Muxiana is the really pretty one with heavy paper).

But - all these places are giving out these certificates - mostly on their dime.. and Santiago by far gives out the most. It makes sense for them to not want to spend any more money than they have to giving out free certificates.

I wish I had gotten the certificate in Sahagun - but I was tired that day, and it was early after Spain reopened - I didn't want to work to find where to get it only to find they were still closed due to COVID. I had issues in both Fisterra and Muxia - but after an email - they were kind enough to mail them to me.

 

[Vince1958]

I picked one up at the end of the Camino Madrid so it was my compostella of sorts for an otherwise uncertificated walk. Unlike a previous contributor, my credentials were pored over and questions asked (but all in good humour) and yes it is a lovely momento of a fabulous hike.

 

[davebugg]

Mine was a pilgrimage as a fellowship time with God and the Compostela has great meaning for me. My first Compostela was done in the name of my first child, who died within a few short hours after his birth. It and my second Compostela are not souvenirs, which is why I had no real interest in picking up the 'halfway' certificate when passing thru Shagun. Maybe I will next time.

 

[TonyScotland]

I am not posting this to start a debate about the value of the compostela. For me, the certificate was meaningful and a treasure I will always cherish.

That being said, I find it interesting that the midway Compostella is a much nicer certificate. It is thicker and professional lettering, as compared to my end Compostella which is a flimsy piece of paper with a hand scrawled name on it. I am glad I got both.

Where did you get the halfway certificate from is there an office? I leave SJPDP on the 20th March 2023

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I have been on this forum for over five years and this thread is the first time I have heard of a "half-way" certificate at Sahagan...I must have had my head in the sand.

 

[TonyScotland]

I am not posting this to start a debate about the value of the compostela. For me, the certificate was meaningful and a treasure I will always cherish.

That being said, I find it interesting that the midway Compostella is a much nicer certificate. It is thicker and professional lettering, as compared to my end Compostella which is a flimsy piece of paper with a hand scrawled name on it. I am glad I got both.

Where did you get it from is there an office?

 

[Bogong]

I am not posting this to start a debate about the value of the compostela. For me, the certificate was meaningful and a treasure I will always cherish.

That being said, I find it interesting that the midway Compostella is a much nicer certificate. It is thicker and professional lettering, as compared to my end Compostella which is a flimsy piece of paper with a hand scrawled name on it. I am glad I got both.

You can get a certificate anywhere along the Camino. It’s called a sello.

De colores

Bogong

 

[goebel.travels]

Looks like the place to stop in is Oficina de Turismo de Sahagún - http://turismosahagun.com/ - from a Sarah Dhooma video [

]

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Looks like the place to stop in is Oficina de Turismo de Sahagún

Yes, that is the place. People have written that there is a place nearby where you can buy a mailing tube to protect it or post it. Inquire at the office.

Note that this certificate used to be picked up at a deconsecrated church on a hill at the far end of town. It is currently a museum.

Edit: I was too lazy to look up the name of the place where you used to get the certificate but @ronhenry2 gives the name in the next post.

 

[ronhenry2]

Where did you get it from is there an office?

In 2019 I got my halfway certificate in Sahagún in the Iglesia Señora de la Peregrina. There is a statue of the Virgin here dressed as a pilgrim. Parts of this church are from the thirteenth century. I believe this church is now basically a museum. As I remember there are walls/structures from earlier centuries. I had already walked the entire Francés in previous years but I was re-walking sections when I discovered this church and the certificate.

 

[David Tallan]

I've previously posted my translation of the "halfway" certificate here:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-trivia.67346/#post-844188

From the translation you can see that "halfway" is a misnomer.

I think "halfway point" is based on:

geographical center of the Camino Frances

That said, I wonder if they provide it to folk who have just completed the Camino de Madrid.
Edited to add: I see Vince1958 has answered this question above.

 

[David Tallan]

You can get a certificate anywhere along the Camino. It’s called a sello.

De colores

Bogong

A sello (stamp) in your credencial is a bit different from the certificate being discussed here, or the ones available in Santiago, Finisterre, Muxia, and, I believe, Padron.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

That said, I wonder if they provide it to folk who have just completed the Camino de Madrid.

There is a lot of flowery language in the certificate but, in short, it says Pilgrim [name] was in Sahagün, the town's people extend good wishes for a safe camino and we hope to be remembered. So pretty much show up and ask for a certificate -- 3€ please.

We spent three days in Sahagün and I had a wonderful time (Peg was recovering from an illness though; she didn't have as good of a time). I don't need the certificate to remember Sahagün but it's a wonderful souvenir nonetheless.

 

[Bogong]

I sello (stamp) in your credencial is a bit different from the certificate being discussed here, or the ones available in Santiago, Finisterre, Muxia, and, I believe, Padron.

I was lamenting how ridiculously commercialised the whole thing is becoming. All about money! The compostela with the selloed credencial is a personalised memory, but I shudder to think how things may go in future? And halfway between where and where? How about from Rome, Canterbury, Jerusalem, or even Paris? Perhaps stations every quarter of the way or every 50k or so where, for a price, you can get a part completion certificate? Our supermarkets here sell hot cross buns all year round and Easter eggs and bunnies came in the market straight after Christmas. To me things are getting more and more ridiculous, sorry. I’m not sure I particularly like the way things in general are going but perhaps I’m just a grumpy old man!


De Colores

Bogong

 

[trecile]

There is a lot of flowery language in the certificate but, in short, it says Pilgrim [name] was in Sahagün, the town's people extend good wishes for a safe camino and we hope to be remembered. So pretty much show up and ask for a certificate -- 3€ please.

I don't think that there's an umlaut over the U In Sahagún.

 

[SabsP]

I was lamenting how ridiculously commercialised the whole thing is becoming. All about money! The compostela with the selloed credencial is a personalised memory, but I shudder to think how things may go in future? And halfway between where and where? How about from Rome, Canterbury, Jerusalem, or even Paris? Perhaps stations every quarter of the way or every 50k or so where, for a price, you can get a part completion certificate? Our supermarkets here sell hot cross buns all year round and Easter eggs and bunnies came in the market straight after Christmas. To me things are getting more and more ridiculous, sorry. I’m not sure I particularly like the way things in general are going but perhaps I’m just a grumpy old man!


De Colores

Bogong

Pretty sure it is not all about the money.
The 3 € in Sahagun will hardly break the bank for the average pilgrim who wants to receive this halfway certificate.
I personally think the Camino to Santiago de Compostela , or any other pilgrimage, will survive any sort of commercialism.
Has been the case for centuries now already.

And there is always the choice of walking a less travelled Camino.

Where large groups of people pass , locals try to make some money out of the situation and who can blame them.

 

[David Tallan]

I was lamenting how ridiculously commercialised the whole thing is becoming. All about money! The compostela with the selloed credencial is a personalised memory, but I shudder to think how things may go in future? And halfway between where and where? How about from Rome, Canterbury, Jerusalem, or even Paris? Perhaps stations every quarter of the way or every 50k or so where, for a price, you can get a part completion certificate? Our supermarkets here sell hot cross buns all year round and Easter eggs and bunnies came in the market straight after Christmas. To me things are getting more and more ridiculous, sorry. I’m not sure I particularly like the way things in general are going but perhaps I’m just a grumpy old man!


De Colores

Bogong

I remember when I completed my Camino in 1989 being struck by the number of souvenir shops in Santiago. There seemed a much higher density of them there than in places like Madrid or Paris. And that was when the Camino was somewhat less popular. And you know what? It didn't bother me at all. I didn't think "They're commercializing the Camino" (which they were already doing in the middle ages). I thought "This is a destination city and knows it. They are catering to (but not ripping off - prices were very reasonable) the pilgrims who have come so far to be here."

You can look at the Compostela or the Fisterrana or the Muxiana as ridiculous commercialization, all about the money (although they are free). Or you can look at them as localities helping visitors commemorate their achievements. Similarly you can look at the Sahagun certificate as a money grab, or you can look at it as a town, half way along (from Roncesvalles, where the Spanish count from) saying "look how far you've come, good on you; we wish you well as you go on to complete your journey". The choice is yours.

 

[IngridF]

In 2019 I got my halfway certificate in Sahagún in the Iglesia Señora de la Peregrina. There is a statue of the Virgin here dressed as a pilgrim. Parts of this church are from the thirteenth century. I believe this church is now basically a museum. As I remember there are walls/structures from earlier centuries. I had already walked the entire Francés in previous years but I was re-walking sections when I discovered this church and the certificate.

It's an interesting museum for sure, I didn't get mine but wish I had. I wasn't sure about the qualification. Being as it is the 1/2 way certificate, I naturally thought I had to have walked 1/2 way, which I hadn't. I was in Sahagun as hospitalera, made sure all my pilgrims knew about the option and where to get it. Next time for me!

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I don't think that there's an umlaut over the U In Sahagún.

Dang! Where were you a year ago? I must have had a finger slip last year and then been picking the suggested word ever since.

 

[Barbara]

Mine was a pilgrimage as a fellowship time with God and the Compostela has great meaning for me. My first Compostela was done in the name of my first child, who died within a few short hours after his birth. It and my second Compostela are not souvenirs, which is why I had no real interest in picking up the 'halfway' certificate when passing thru Shagun. Maybe I will next time.

Davebugg, I offer my condolences. May your child rest in peace. A Compostela is not and cannot be merely a souvenir. Yours must be especially poignant. Thank you for sharing that with us.