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I know many peregrinos are disappointed when the pilgrim mass does not include the swinging of the botafumeiro. This all depends on whether it is one of the holy days or whether a group paid for it for the ceremony.
However it was announced recently that every friday mass at 19:30 hour (7:30 pm) the evening mass will include the botafumeiro ceremony. To avoid being disappointed, try to get there a little bit early and to get seats on the sides of the cathedral.
Buen camino and god bless.
I finished the Camino on Sunday, October 6, 2013. We made it a point to arrive early for the noon mass on that date to see the Botafumeiro swinging and were terribly disappointed when it did not happen. On the following Monday, after returning from Finisterre and Muxia (we rented a car), we tried again the evening mass at 7:30pm and it took place! A ceremony not to miss for any peregrino.
I took a video-clip, see youtube.com/watch?v=UecMPnlgNiw
A salut to all the compañeros I had the privilege to encounter,
Pierre aka Don Pedro
We completed our Camino on 25 Sept and saw it swing twice while we were in Santiago between then and 29 Sept -- once at the 19:30 Mass on Friday and again at the 11:00 Mass on Sunday. It's true that photos and videos are not allowed during the Mass, and that rule is enforced by the Cathedral security officers. However, once the botafumeiro ceremony started, probably 85-90% of the people in the church pulled out cameras and started taking either still photos or videos of the entire five minutes or so of the swinging sequence. I did not see the security people ask anyone to stop. This is not to say that it is either OK or not OK, but apparently the security officers realize that it is impossible to enforce that rule during the swinging of the butafumeiro.Am rather confused as there has been a team of hi-vis jacketed people circling around and stopped photos being taken, but at the same time they allowed certain people to stand and move around at the back and these people were free to take pictures and videos with their companions. What is the story here with the policing of a place of prayer?
A mass is a religious ceremony and while a mass is going on people should respect it whether they are Catholic as is in this case or not and not take photographs or go sightseeing around the cathedral, etc. Once the mass has ended the botafumiero is swung. The swinging of the botafumiero is not part of the mass hence people are allowed to take their photos and no one will tell you to stop.
Buen Camino!
hello mendiwalker,
as far as i know taking photos with the electronic flash during the mass and the botafumeiro is not allowed.
however i am not sure whether it is alright to take photos without the use of the flash. i think johnnie walker might be able to clarify what is permitted or what is not.
Hello Piogaw
Of course taking pictures during mass is not allowed but during the swinging of the botafumiero it is as it is not part of the mass.
Buen Camino!
i was invited recently to attend mass at the front of the altsr (inside the rope off area). i was asked not to take photos by the supervisory staff in the cathedral during the botafumeiro ceremony. this is why i suggest johnnie walker might be able to clarify the situation.
Lucky you
Buen Camino!
Dear JalanAm rather confused as there has been a team of hi-vis jacketed people circling around and stopped photos being taken, but at the same time they allowed certain people to stand and move around at the back and these people were free to take pictures and videos with their companions. What is the story here with the policing of a place of prayer?
The use of flash is prohibited at all times in the cathedral of Santiago. This is because of the belief (myth or not) that flash photography damages art works - in this case the many original frescos in the cathedral and paintings and books in the museum.
thank you john for clarifying and verifying my post. no electronic flash at all times while in the cathedral.
But photos are allowed...... without flash during the botafumiero ceremony
Buen Camino!
hello mendiwalker,
i believe so.
buen camino. god bless.
Botafumeiro: Here is the time table.I know many peregrinos are disappointed when the pilgrim mass does not include the swinging of the botafumeiro. This all depends on whether it is one of the holy days or whether a group paid for it for the ceremony.
However it was announced recently that every friday mass at 19:30 hour (7:30 pm) the evening mass will include the botafumeiro ceremony. To avoid being disappointed, try to get there a little bit early and to get seats on the sides of the cathedral.
Buen camino and god bless.
Just surprised people should take flash photos during a Mass
Just back from Santiago last weekend. One of the confraternities there told us that it was swung almost every day during the the tourist season as tourist groups are paying for it. A circus act they called it rather than a religious experience. Quite frankly the whole pilgrim mass left me cold. Complete disrespect for the Mass by tourists one of whom snatched the Eucharist from the priests hand and stuffed in his pocket. Must have thought it was some sort of souvenir being given out. Could have attended a second one the next day but decided I had had enough of that. Compared to the pilgrim mass in Carrion, well it just didn't come close to the spiritual experience thereI know many peregrinos are disappointed when the pilgrim mass does not include the swinging of the botafumeiro. This all depends on whether it is one of the holy days or whether a group paid for it for the ceremony.
However it was announced recently that every friday mass at 19:30 hour (7:30 pm) the evening mass will include the botafumeiro ceremony. To avoid being disappointed, try to get there a little bit early and to get seats on the sides of the cathedral.
Buen camino and god bless.
Sorry to have turned to this forum to ease my confusion about people taking photos and videos during mass in the cathedral. I am now even more confused as the thread is moving into bending the rules that photos can be taken if flash is turned off, and that because of the present trend of 85-90% of people whipping out their cameras during the swinging of the botufumeiro ceremony it would be beyond the capabilities of the hi-vis jacketed enforcers to control this phenomenon. I feel that the rule makers of the cathedral should for a start change the prominent board at the entrance that states clearly in various languages and pictures that photos and videos are NOT ALLOWED. The next step is for them to have a meeting with the Hi-vis enforcers to give clear instructions of how they are to handle the increasing hordes of camera toting visitors fairly. In other words please please move with the times. I thank those who have expressed their opinion, it however does not answer the question of why some people are allowed to take photos and videos while some are stopped in quite a scene from doing so.i have just checked with someone in santiago. from what i understand you are not allow to take photos with the electronic flash during the botofumeiro ceremony. but allowed without the flash. during the mass no photos are to be taken.
Sorry to have turned to this forum to ease my confusion about people taking photos and videos during mass in the cathedral. I am now even more confused as the thread is moving into bending the rules that photos can be taken if flash is turned off, and that because of the present trend of 85-90% of people whipping out their cameras during the swinging of the botufumeiro ceremony it would be beyond the capabilities of the hi-vis jacketed enforcers to control this phenomenon. I feel that the rule makers of the cathedral should for a start change the prominent board at the entrance that states clearly in various languages and pictures that photos and videos are NOT ALLOWED. The next step is for them to have a meeting with the Hi-vis enforcers to give clear instructions of how they are to handle the increasing hordes of camera toting visitors fairly. In other words please please move with the times. I thank those who have expressed their opinion, it however does not answer the question of why some people are allowed to take photos and videos while some are stopped in quite a scene from doing so.
In fact, policing hundreds of people in the Cathedral by a handfull of "vigilantes" has proven to be wishful thinking.[...] So what is the solution? To stop people from bringing backpacks or even small handbags into the cathedral? I would like to remind people going into the cathedral to respect the rules and regulations. But it is easier said than done.
We went to the pilgrims mass on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 and the botafumeiro swung. As you look at the altar, we sat in the left transept...wonderful view, and we took pictures and video, sans flash. Incredibly beautiful and moving...so blessed to have seen it after our journey. Buen Camino!I know many peregrinos are disappointed when the pilgrim mass does not include the swinging of the botafumeiro. This all depends on whether it is one of the holy days or whether a group paid for it for the ceremony.
However it was announced recently that every friday mass at 19:30 hour (7:30 pm) the evening mass will include the botafumeiro ceremony. To avoid being disappointed, try to get there a little bit early and to get seats on the sides of the cathedral.
Buen camino and god bless.
Sorry to have turned to this forum to ease my confusion about people taking photos and videos during mass in the cathedral. I am now even more confused as the thread is moving into bending the rules that photos can be taken if flash is turned off, and that because of the present trend of 85-90% of people whipping out their cameras during the swinging of the botufumeiro ceremony it would be beyond the capabilities of the hi-vis jacketed enforcers to control this phenomenon. I feel that the rule makers of the cathedral should for a start change the prominent board at the entrance that states clearly in various languages and pictures that photos and videos are NOT ALLOWED. The next step is for them to have a meeting with the Hi-vis enforcers to give clear instructions of how they are to handle the increasing hordes of camera toting visitors fairly. In other words please please move with the times. I thank those who have expressed their opinion, it however does not answer the question of why some people are allowed to take photos and videos while some are stopped in quite a scene from doing so.
Not to split hairs or to be argumentative, but the Mass is not technically finished until after the Rite of Conclusion, which includes the final blessing by the priest and the parting directive, "The Mass is ended, go in peace" (or the equivalent in Spanish or whatever the local dialect is. As I recall from the two Masses we attended where the botafumiero was swung, the Rite of Conclusion came after the botafumiero. Of course my memory of these occasions may not be entirely accurate. But nevertheless, nearly everyone in attendance -- myself included -- brought out their cameras and recorded the entire botafumiero ceremony. I'd consider that a relatively minor sinA mass is a religious ceremony and while a mass is going on people should respect it whether they are Catholic as is in this case or not and not take photographs or go sightseeing around the cathedral, etc. Once the mass has ended the botafumiero is swung. The swinging of the botafumiero is not part of the mass hence people are allowed to take their photos and no one will tell you to stop.
Buen Camino!
Specific, probably time sensitive information. According to our tour guide the botafumeiro is used at the 7:30 service on Friday night unless other arrangements are made. At least as of November 2013.
I'm afraid that the Botafumeiro swinging is becoming similar to Disney Land's dolphins show. There's no business like show business. Could Santiago be turning in his grave?[...]There are many, many videos of the swinging urn on Youtube, probably just as good or better than you can get. Show your friends these videos.[...]
The Camino to many if not most is a once in a lifetime experience, an experience we make a point to share with family and friends. It marks an important TimeLine in my (sorry to sound so self-centred) life and showing the film, in digital form, to our congregation, school, and club elicited many favourable comments, particularly from those who will never be able to make the Camino. Capturing the swinging of the Botafumero with a camera does not detract from the being in the moment for me, the moment can be very distracting with the pushing and shoving, seeing the blatant disregard to the pleas not to use flash, not finding a seat. I have had many a nasty stare from the well dressed front pew folks when I walked in late with a crying baby in our hushed City Cathedral as it seem to take away their moment.I’m sure I recall when I attended the Mass in May of this year, the congregation was told that photography during the Mass was not permitted, but it was permitted during the swinging of the Botafumeiro. Personally, I preferred to forego attempts to capture this event on film, in favour of just being in the moment.
Just to clarify, in case there is any misunderstanding ….. I meant no disrespect whatever to those persons who choose to film the botafumiero ceremony; initially, I too tried to film it. What I was saying is that I found my attempts at filming it were distracting to me, so I abandoned those attempts, in favour of just being in the moment. What others chose to do during that time, to film or not film, had no effect on me.The Camino to many if not most is a once in a lifetime experience, an experience we make a point to share with family and friends. It marks an important TimeLine in my (sorry to sound so self-centred) life and showing the film, in digital form, to our congregation, school, and club elicited many favourable comments, particularly from those who will never be able to make the Camino. Capturing the swinging of the Botafumero with a camera does not detract from the being in the moment for me, the moment can be very distracting with the pushing and shoving, seeing the blatant disregard to the pleas not to use flash, not finding a seat. I have had many a nasty stare from the well dressed front pew folks when I walked in late with a crying baby in our hushed City Cathedral as it seem to take away their moment.
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