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Such a shame

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Sorry, I don't understand. Can you please post the original piece?

What I do get is that Camino comercialisation wins again vs Camino ethos.

When I firat went to Fisterra it was on a Sunday and I hated it: tour buses everywhere.

This year I got there on a weekday and had a different experience, but still blah.

There was a small group burning something, got lovely photos of a man taking pictures of the view with his dog by his side.

Hate to think the place has been over taken by pilgrim hooligans, but as long as special certificates are offered....
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
I can't imagine burning a pile of modern footwear and clothing being a very pleasant thing. The smell of charred rubber and synthetics. Ugh.
There really is no excuse for the graffiti and trash. Rude and inconsiderate. Work of idiots.
 
After finally arriving at Fisterra I left three armbands that I had worn for a number of years. One in memory of my late daughter, one for Livestrong (sic) and one for a club in Monaco. I didn't burn anything but will admit dumping trash, even if it is personally sacred, is somewhat sacrilegious and anti environmental. My apologies.
 

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I stayed in Finisterre long enough to have lunch this week, then started walking on to Muxia, a good ending for my two month Camino. The smaller villages along the way like Lires were also good places to visit and to mark the end of my walk.
I came back to Santiago on the bus with an Aussie who was telling me about burning his socks at Finisterre. My guess is that if he knew it was going to cause a problem for locals, and wasn't just a neat pilgrim tradition but was creating a mess, he wouldn't have done it.
Maybe there is some way to get the word out on this, and other pilgrim behaviors that can create problems for locals--perhaps a handout at the office in St. Jean? Or even a sign in multiple languages at the lighthouse?
 
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I have heard about this "custom" but never understood the logic of burning garbage and thinking it was an okay thing to do. Even walking the rest of the camino and seeing boots that people feel are okay to just abandon on the path rather than dispose of properly. Some of the markers even start to look more like garbage piles because of the "mementos" people leave behind. I wonder what people think happens to the "garbage" they leave behind - I think they think it is "artsy" but to me it is an eyesore. I don't think these people would do this in their home town but for some reason they find it acceptable to do in some else's.
 
Pingüigrino said:
If you asked them wy, they probable would answer " we are doing our own Camino, dont be judgmental"
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. Whenever I try to approach the subject here on the Forum, the argument is there already. But as I see it "It's your own Camino" has nothing introspective to it. I feel it's a phrase that's quite superficial and egoistic. What if the Camino was about sharing and respecting and living with OTHER pilgrims, instead of concentrating on your own experience? So don't write graffitti/burn things/leave objects, because it may offend OTHERS, even if they are meaningful rituals to you.
 
Burn the image of the sunset and lighthouse of Finisterre onto your brain with your eyes; leave the Camino with your memories; enscribe with your pen your thoughts and best wishes into a paper journal or, if so inclined, onto a blog; deposit your good will amongst fellow pilgrims along the way....
Walk and leave only footprints.
The rest, take home with you or (if need be) deposit the stuff you don't want into the proper bins and leave the natural 'decoration' as is--inuksuks belong in the north and graffitti belongs on a linen canvas (or on a wall you own at home).
 
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The act of burning is a ritual practiced in almost all traditions which symbolizes many things but a common one is a gesture of ridding a past. Humans more easily identify this gesture with a physical act so they burn physical things which is not really lasting as we can always go back and get new ones.

Ritualistically, as with all journeys in life, we all have past that is no longer serving our betterment and I believe the nature of journey on the Camino provides the opportunity of uncovering those things...i.e. our wounds, anger, resentments and all the crap that we have been carrying throughout our lives. Coming to the end, we reconciled and let them go. We burn away those "thoughts", "beliefs", "ideas", "burdens" that do not need to come along on our new chapter after the Camimo. That can be done with mere intentions not necessary through a physical act of burning. Personally I see it as a great spiritual gesture (not the physical burning but the reconciliation as the end step).
 
Jas Asyiken said:
The act of burning is a ritual practiced in almost all traditions which symbolizes many things but a common one is a gesture of ridding a past.
Click to expand...

In the Cathedral Church of Saint James in Santiago the end of the journey to there can be marked by participating at the midday Pilgrims mass, or at other times.

Rather than bemoan the apparently thoughtless (to some) act of burning clothing the authorities at Fisterra might consider arranging a daily burning event that would provide the outlet @Jas Asyiken refers to.

It might take a season for such a daily event to become the new norm and become something walkers look forward to.
 
….I didn't feel the need to burn anything but did enjoy walking into the Atlantic, washing off that L'eau de Pelerin and emerging sea scoured and tingling.
 
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A selection of Camino Jewellery
Nor do I burn anything, but follow a personal tradition. As you may know home is in Champagne facing a vineyard. Thus at the end of each camino when at last I reach the sea I silently give thanks and then treat myself to a flute of true French champagne, toasting all who helped to make my journey possible. Watching the sea I slowly sip savoring the moment. When that glass is empty it is time to turn towards home .

Margaret Meredith
 
You carry a bottle of champagne all the way to Finisterre? Wow, that's impressive. Those thi gs are heavy.
 
Not at all! I buy a flute in the bar of the O Semaphoro hotel! Rather dear but it is the end of the journey.
 
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