- Time of past OR future Camino
- Francés, Norte, Salvador, Primitivo, Portuguese
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Do to others what you want others to do to you.Can you think of anything that is a real pilgrim custom that I should mention?
I've never heard about "running the last few hundred meters to the cathedral" and doubt that it is or has been a Camino pilgrim's custom.Specifically I have been asked about these "customs": burning your clothes in Finisterre/Muxia, dropping stones at the Cruz de Ferro, running the last few hundred meters to the cathedral, anything like that.
Interesting oxymoron.Humility - if you don’t have it, it will be inflicted upon you.
Thanks. Although I've given other Camino talks in the past, I'm a little nervous about this one because it's part of an OLLI class (an organization for continuing education for older adults) which people are actually paying for. Plus it's on Zoom, which I haven't used much.As you know, there is no such thing as a ‘real’ pilgrim...
I wish you well for your talk, I am sure you’ll do wonders.
The Galician government has pleaded with pilgrims not to burn their clothes at the beach, as they are trying very hard to fulfill their environmental goals.
No-one's mentined carrying a shell...or the way it's different now than it was when people walked from home to home and brought the shell home with them.
Multiple Caminos and I have never brought anything to the cruz de ferro to deposit upon that ever growing pile.
Individual pilgrims or individual groups of pilgrims may come up with all sorts of ideas. It's certainly not a custom in the sense of "a traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society, place, or time such as 'the old English custom of dancing round the maypole'" as it is defined in a dictionary."running the last few hundred meters to the cathedral"With a backpack? Now, I am intrigued. Where did this weird idea came from?
The historical reasons that pilgrims believe in as to a custom that they practice are often inaccurate and lack proof in historical sources. Does it matter? I guess that this does not fall within the remit of @trecile's talk, and you could even say that erroneous beliefs have now become part of modern tradition, both spoken and written.a garbled understanding of a custom that is no longer practised
So, @trecile, you are going to use photos and other visuals in your Zoom talk ☺ ? You could practice beforehand with volunteers from the forum ...Plus it's on Zoom, which I haven't used much.
Hi Jenny,On a light note regarding real pilgrim customs, one of the most enjoyable pilgrim customs is second breakfast - you might try this at home from time to time but it’s never the same! Is there an emoji for a sigh? Aaahh - second breakfast on the Camino ...
Best of luck with your talk Trecile -
Cheers from Oz -
Jenny
Multiple Caminos and I have never brought anything to the cruz de ferro to deposit upon that ever growing pile.
Have never burned anything on the coast of Fisterre or Muxia and quite honestly I think it is a stupid idea. Hazardous. To any prospective future pilgrims reading this, just to let you know the locals and the Spanish government do not want you to do it.
Running the last hundred metres or so to the cathedral in SDC sounds asinine and childish to me, and I have never observed anyone do it.
I can not think of anything that I would consider an actual custom. I know that just about everyone drinks the cafe con leche or eats pulpo at least once. Communal dinners are quite common. I have been in a group singing of "ultreia" song before (I'm not a group hug etc kinda guy, but I did think it was pretty cool).
Oh yes, you are right! The frequent pilgrims blessings at the end of an evening mass in Spanish churches. Mainly along the Camino Frances, I guess? That's definitely a new and contemporary custom.Priests have their own way of addressing the pilgrims before or after mass.
Bravo!!Hi trecile
I would tell them: "forget about the pilgrims customs".
Just walk the Camino, and do what you feel that it's good to you at that moment. For me is a very special inner journey, and with no-need of customs.
I respect all the things (even strange ones!) pilgrims do, but I never took with me a stone for Cruz de Ferro, I never ran the last meters, and of course, I never burnt any clothes (I work hard to buy them!!)
Hope this helps you
Thanks. Although I've given other Camino talks in the past, I'm a little nervous about this one because it's part of an OLLIclass (an organization for continuing education for older adults) which people are actually paying for. Plus it's on Zoom, which I haven't used much.
I'm not the teacher for the entire course, which is about historical roots of the Camino. My portion is just about being a pilgrim on the modern Camino.
Good question! A simple gesture which meant something symbolic to me and my group last year was throwing a stone brought from home (in Scotland) into the sea beside the Faro at Fisterra...I've been asked to do a presentation on Walking the Modern Camino.
I have been asked several questions in advance, and some have to do with pilgrim "customs."
Specifically I have been asked about these "customs": burning your clothes in Finisterre/Muxia, dropping stones at the Cruz de Ferro, running the last few hundred meters to the cathedral, anything like that.
I will definitely tell them that burning your clothes anywhere is not a custom that should be followed! And I don't know anyone who ran the last few hundred meters to the cathedral.
Can you think of anything that is a real pilgrim custom that I should mention?
Thanks. Although I've given other Camino talks in the past, I'm a little nervous about this one because it's part of an OLLIclass (an organization for continuing education for older adults) which people are actually paying for. Plus it's on Zoom, which I haven't used much.
I'm not the teacher for the entire course, which is about historical roots of the Camino. My portion is just about being a pilgrim on the modern Camino.
Much better idea than burning clothes there!Good question! A simple gesture which meant something symbolic to me and my group last year was throwing a stone brought from home (in Scotland) into the sea beside the Faro at Fisterra...
Not an emoji, but a note I have up on my fridge:.... one of the most enjoyable pilgrim customs is second breakfast - Is there an emoji for a sigh? Aaahh - second breakfast on the Camino ...
A hug for the Apostle is, I think, a real pilgrim custom that should be mentioned.I've been asked to do a presentation on Walking the Modern Camino.
I have been asked several questions in advance, and some have to do with pilgrim "customs."
Specifically I have been asked about these "customs": burning your clothes in Finisterre/Muxia, dropping stones at the Cruz de Ferro, running the last few hundred meters to the cathedral, anything like that.
I will definitely tell them that burning your clothes anywhere is not a custom that should be followed! And I don't know anyone who ran the last few hundred meters to the cathedral.
Can you think of anything that is a real pilgrim custom that I should mention?
I used to say "ultreia" to fellow pilgrims (perhaps pretentiously and/or pedantically). Rarely got the "e suseia" in response. I put "Ultreia" on my sello. As I was told, "ultreia" means "onward" and "suseia" means "upward". Onward and upward!The only place that I can remember singing Ultreia was after dinner at Albergue parroquial Santiago El Real.
That sounds meaningful to you and your church friends, but not a good idea if it catches on - think of the mess all those little slips of paper would create!Some great 'custom' ideas are inspiring. Such as listening, giving space, offering help, picking up litter. My own one, it's not really a custom, well it is for me. I ask folk in our Church if they wish to write down their prayers and intentions. I would carry them with me each day and leave them at the relics of St James.
That is true, numerous petitions are contained in one envelope. I have no idea, what happens to the petitions afterwards, but I wouldn't think the Cathedral staff, would regard petitions as a mess. Perhaps if anyone has other knowledge of this.That sounds meaningful to you and your church friends, but not a good idea if it catches on - think of the mess all those little slips of paper would create!
It is a vague memory, but I believe there is an official place for such petitions.I have no idea, what happens to the petitions afterwards, but I wouldn't think the Cathedral staff, would regard petitions as a mess.
Hi Jenny,
During Covid lockdowns I've read some people are having not only a second breakfast, but a 3rd and 4th one, as well!
Graffiti a "custom"? I just thought it was a childish, offensive and pretty much criminal act?Probably another custom (maybe one not to be encouraged) is camino graffiti which in some spots has provided light relief, humour or encouragement but in others it has taken over with scrawled illegible messages covering every surface.
I never said it was a "good" custom - customs can be bad, and even criminal (just like habits can be good or bad). And did say it was custom that shouldn't be encouraged. But given that many people have taken photos of grafitti like the many defaced "stop" signs made to read "Don't stop walking" it is also clear that some graffiti has been taken in some positive fashion by a reasonable proportion of pilgrims. It is also something to be aware of when walking the more popular sections that there is a serious amount of graffiti on many, many surfaces - even if one would not add to it, it should be something to be aware of.Graffiti a "custom"? I just thought it was a childish, offensive and pretty much criminal act?
Last place in the world I would take encouragement advice from is some loser who passed by earlier with a spray paint can and used it to deface public property and private property not belong to him/her. Never found any of it funny, either.
You've been reading "The Hobbit" again haven't you?Hi Jenny,
During Covid lockdowns I've read some people are having not only a second breakfast, but a 3rd and 4th one, as well!
I've something similar in pewter - a replica of a 13th century pilgrim brooch. The original was found during an archaeological dig in London.A custom that I find fascinating to buy a souvenir amulet made of jet. It's a very old custom, that lingers in the jewelers lining the aptly named street as you walk into the Praza Obradoiro.
https://twitter.com/x/status/1308766955772555264amulet | British Museum
Amulet; jet in the form of clasped fist or hand (figa) with the thumb between index and third fingers, with three bands around wrist and pierced suspension loop.www.britishmuseum.org Jet Saint James. Santiago de Compostela, mid 17th century | BADA
A large jet carving of Saint James the Greater. Santiago de Compostela, mid 17th century. James the son of Zebedee is the patron saint of Spaniards and as such is often identified as Santiago, hence his frequent veneration in small jet sculptures & talismans from Santiago De Compostela. Images...www.bada.org
I think it's the Latin equivalent of "onward and upward" but have no Latin myself.The only place that I can remember singing Ultreia was after dinner at Albergue parroquial Santiago El Real.
What does the pilgrim expression Ultreia Et Suseia mean?
The various churches and shrines in the land of Israel had heaps of the little papers. Mounding heaps. And some people in our group had papers that they intended to take to the Wailing Wall...don't know why...the guide mentioned that as Christians maybe poking the papers into the Jewish shrine was a little off, and made a different suggestion...the ladies who had papers then were discussing where and when for that and when I suggested that he was making a suggestion to pray for the intentions instead of tucking papers into chinks in walls or dropping them in, for example, the church of the home of St. Joseph, they looked at me like I had two heads.That sounds meaningful to you and your church friends, but not a good idea if it catches on - think of the mess all those little slips of paper would create!
@trecile I've given 7 week courses at the local university designed for older learners/enrichment courses , " El Camino de Santiago; Walking Modern Pilgrimage " . They were the most wonderful experiences! My hope was to teach again this January/February, but I've already pulled my course because of COVID and the requirement of doing it all via zoom. ( I do telehealth sessions for my work and my tolerance limit for online activity is at capacity ) I was fortunate to have a class of 24 very interested and engaged students that wanted every detail. I did use a powerpoint presentation, and videos that I created from my camino photos and solicited photos from people here on the forum...you are welcome to any and all info I might have. Let me know if I can be of assistance...I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did !Thanks. Although I've given other Camino talks in the past, I'm a little nervous about this one because it's part of an OLLIclass (an organization for continuing education for older adults) which people are actually paying for. Plus it's on Zoom, which I haven't used much.
I'm not the teacher for the entire course, which is about historical roots of the Camino. My portion is just about being a pilgrim on the modern Camino.
Sophie, what a very kind and generous offer to @trecile!Let me know if I can be of assistance...I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did !
Thank you so much. As I said earlier, I have done quite a few Camino presentations, but they have all been live, in person events. I have been participating in the previous sessions of this class dealing with the "history and mystery" of the Camino, and it just feels so different from in person sessions. Even when the speaker asks for questions, rarely anyone speaks up. It's hard to tell if they are engaged in the topic or not. Hopefully my part goes well - it's tomorrow afternoon!@trecile I've given 7 week courses at the local university designed for older learners/enrichment courses , " El Camino de Santiago; Walking Modern Pilgrimage " . They were the most wonderful experiences! My hope was to teach again this January/February, but I've already pulled my course because of COVID and the requirement of doing it all via zoom. ( I do telehealth sessions for my work and my tolerance limit for online activity is at capacity ) I was fortunate to have a class of 24 very interested and engaged students that wanted every detail. I did use a powerpoint presentation, and videos that I created from my camino photos and solicited photos from people here on the forum...you are welcome to any and all info I might have. Let me know if I can be of assistance...I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did !
It'll be great !!!! I've always found this to be true : A speaker who speaks from the heart about something they love can capture the world as audience ! Good luck and enjoy!Thank you so much. As I said earlier, I have done quite a few Camino presentations, but they have all been live, in person events. I have been participating in the previous sessions of this class dealing with the "history and mystery" of the Camino, and it just feels so different from in person sessions. Even when the speaker asks for questions, rarely anyone speaks up. It's hard to tell if they are engaged in the topic or not. Hopefully my part goes well - it's tomorrow afternoon!
It's Basque.I think it's the Latin equivalent of "onward and upward" but have no Latin myself.
I've been touched by the worn stones at the entry, and steps, in the cathedral and other churches. Thinking of the people whose feet, some of them bare, wore down that stone, as they came with their faith, sorrows, joys......No-one's mentined carrying a shell...or the way it's different now than it was when people walked from home to home and brought the shell home with them.
Or the pilgrim's mass, and that moment when you hear the part of the reading the list of daily numbers of arrivals that includes you.
And hugging the statue/paying respects at the crypt
And if you are lucky, getting to see the botafumerio swing.
I am sorry that my first Camino was too late to enter the cathedral through the Portico de Gloria and so missing the old traditions that came with that. I always find it very moving that so many pilgrims hands have touched the base of the tree of Jesse there that there is a handprint worn into the Stone. That's a millennium of time and many pilgrims.
It is my favorite meal.....Hi Jenny,
During Covid lockdowns I've read some people are having not only a second breakfast, but a 3rd and 4th one, as well!
In Santiago, I am especially touched by the worn steps leading up to the statue of St James an hope they are not 'improved' in the work that is being done now; they don't look that 'ancient,' and still there is plenty of wear.I've been touched by the worn stones at the entry, and steps, in the cathedral and other churches.
It is??It's Basque
I can not think of anything that I would consider an actual custom.
I did up there in post #18, and others have also.No one mentioned attending Catholics Mass
No one mentioned attending Catholics Mass-whether or not for religious reasons. Please not a religious post. Just an observation about pilgrim "customs"
Quite right, @Virawalking. Not only attending Catholic Mass was mentioned but also the Pilgrims Blessings at the end of Mass throughout the Camino Frances as a typical contemporary custom. As early as forty posts ago. And needless to say that the Pilgrims Blessings are for every pilgrim who wants to be blessed, regular churchgoer or not, Catholic or not.I did up there in post #18, and others have also. This is definitely a custom that has endured through the ages as an important part of the whole process.
Did you make this one up yourself, or actually do it?Washing in the River at Lavacolla before walking into Santiago?
Thanks to you and @David Tallan for the reply. I cut, copied, and pasted into my post and neglected to change the font. Just for clarity, I excerpted the following from the hyperlink.I think it's the Latin equivalent of "onward and upward" but have no Latin myself.
I have received some of the most beautiful blessings along the way from priests, nuns, and even an occasional lay person. One of the highlights is the blessing at the end of the mass in Roncesvalles. It's veey moving.And needless to say that the Pilgrims Blessings are for every pilgrim who wants to be blessed, regular churchgoer or not, Catholic or not.
Sorry - sometimes I just scan these longer posts - Mass was already mentioned.What did you find important enough to mention in the end, enquiring minds want to know.
Did you make this one up yourself, or actually do it?
Sorry - sometimes I just scan these longer posts - Mass was already mentioned.
What I was try to add was that I feel more Catholic on the Camino -I don't visit churches in Maine.
I do on the Camino. There is a greater magnetism there. The arc of history is much longer.
If I was to pick a 'spot' it would probably be Buddhist. On Camino? You would think I was a devout Catholic!
You could consider doing an interview with someone who took the plunge at Lavacolla.It's Traditional !Read your Camino History
You could consider doing an interview with someone who took the plunge at Lavacolla.
Great addition. I loved taking those shadow pictures in the mornings...definately a tradition for many of us!A few years ago it was customary to take a least one picture of your shadow while on the road.
Is it still being done?
I took a few shadow pictures. More consistently, I took sunrise pictures.Great addition. I loved taking those shadow pictures in the mornings...definately a tradition for many of us!
Nice move. Gives you a broader range.I have changed this part of my presentation from Pilgrim Customs to Camino Culture.
The Mass that I attended for the fist time in 20 years in Trindade de Arre was said in Spanish - and my Spanish is not good. But ultimately that did not really matter.And the English language Mass in Santiago that Father Manny officiates at is very special.
Nicely said.And it was like listening to a song in another language.- I didn't get the words but the rhythm and cadence were incredibly familiar.
I didn't know the words, but I intimately knew the music.
In 2017 I carried a small portion of my brothers ashes from Porto to Santiago. That was my 8th Camino. While living he always expressed an interest in my pilgrimages. He never quite managed to commit to it. Near the end he was not a healthy man so I carried him after he passed. That was more for me than it was for him. And lets not talk about the time I left him in a bar in Ponte de Lima.And ashes ... nobody has mentioned this yet, I think. I don't know how common it is - I did meet one pilgrim who carried the ashes of her deceased brother from SJPP to Santiago and I don't think that he had any connection with the pilgrimage route or the sea - but I would call this an evolving contemporary custom - although not unique to the pilgrimage route.
@trecile, I guess you are coordinating with the other speakers of this course? Not every characteristic of the pilgrimage to Santiago is necessarily a custom and I guess you will try to avoid that too many speakers cover the same ground?
I’m very much a novice, having only completed half of the Camino Frances in three instalments so far since June 2019.I've been asked to do a presentation on Walking the Modern Camino.
I have been asked several questions in advance, and some have to do with pilgrim "customs."
Specifically I have been asked about these "customs": burning your clothes in Finisterre/Muxia, dropping stones at the Cruz de Ferro, running the last few hundred meters to the cathedral, anything like that.
I will definitely tell them that burning your clothes anywhere is not a custom that should be followed! And I don't know anyone who ran the last few hundred meters to the cathedral.
Can you think of anything that is a real pilgrim custom that I should mention?
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