Urgent question - is the botafumeiro currently operating?

[spinnaker]

I read that due to ongoing restoration work inside the cathedral, the Botafumeiro is not currently operating. Can anyone confirm whether this is currently the case? We plan to arrive to Santiago de Compostela tomorrow and would welcome clarification. Thank you!

 

[donalomahony]

This may help:

Thread 'Botafumeiro Swing in Santiago de Compostela - What You Need to Know' https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...go-de-compostela-what-you-need-to-know.78130/

Read through it fully for updates.

The short answer is Yes, but "WHEN" depends...

 

[SabsP]

I read that due to ongoing restoration work inside the cathedral, the Botafumeiro is not currently operating. Can anyone confirm whether this is currently the case? We plan to arrive to Santiago de Compostela tomorrow and would welcome clarification. Thank you!

It is in operation.

When is the Botafumeiro used? | Pilgrim's welcome office

The Botafumeiro (‘censer’ in Galician) is one of the most famous and popular symbols of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. It is a large censer that swings from the central dome of the Cathedral, from which it hangs by a system of pulleys, to the side naves. Eight men are required to move it,

oficinadelperegrino.com

 

[natefaith]

Definitely in operation. Many pilgrims this summer have attended a mass where it has been part of it.

Buen Camino on your last day tomorrow!

 

[Phil Smith]

We attended Mass on Friday 2 and Sunday 4 June where the Botafumeiro was used. This was the same weekend as the enthronement of the new archbishop...which probably helped.
I hope you have a great walk into Santiago tomorrow
Buen Camino

 

[C clearly]

I read that due to ongoing restoration work inside the cathedral,

Where did you read that?

 

[dbier]

More, when. The restoration work was completed some time ago....
As others have said, it has been operated, and that recently. But none of us know which Mass it might be swung at. It does NOT swing for every Mass.

 

[Jill PetersGee]

I read that due to ongoing restoration work inside the cathedral, the Botafumeiro is not currently operating. Can anyone confirm whether this is currently the case? We plan to arrive to Santiago de Compostela tomorrow and would welcome clarification. Thank you!

We were there on Sunday June 18th and it swung at both the 9:30 and 12:00 masses. If a group is arriving they will pay to have it swing. On June 18th, Bucknell Univiversity sponsored the botafumeiro at noon.

 

[Paula P]

We were there on Sunday June 18th and it swung at both the 9:30 and 12:00 masses. If a group is arriving they will pay to have it swing. On June 18th, Bucknell Univiversity sponsored the botafumeiro at noon.

There is probably no way to know if a group has sponsored it for any particular Mass , is there?

 

[Bradypus]

There is probably no way to know if a group has sponsored it for any particular Mass , is there?

No. The cathedral and pilgrim office do not publicise when the Botafumeiro is to be used outside the fixed festival dates.

 

[trecile]

There is probably no way to know if a group has sponsored it for any particular Mass , is there?

When I did the rooftop tour last week the tour guide seemed to get a notification that the Botafumeiro would swing at the 7:30 pm mass that day and passed the information on to us.

 

[spinnaker]

When I did the rooftop tour last week the tour guide seemed to get a notification that the Botafumeiro would swing at the 7:30 pm mass that day and passed the information on to us.

Today’s 7:30 PM Mass just concluded; it did not swing. I remain hopeful that it will tomorrow.

 

[trecile]

Today’s 7:30 PM Mass just concluded; it did not swing. I remain hopeful that it will tomorrow.

That information was only for that particular day of course. It all depends on if a group is willing to pay for it.

 

[Paula P]

When I did the rooftop tour last week the tour guide seemed to get a notification that the Botafumeiro would swing at the 7:30 pm mass that day and passed the information on to us.

Thank you. So maybe the rooftop tour before going to a Mass?

 

[Phil Smith]

Thank you. So maybe the rooftop tour before going to a Mass?

It's well worth doing!

 

[JabbaPapa]

Today’s 7:30 PM Mass just concluded; it did not swing. I remain hopeful that it will tomorrow.

When it swings, it's not at every Mass. Lately, during high pilgrim season, so now for example, it seems that it has been swinging most days during the main pilgrim mass at midday. Last year it was so anyway ... Don't know about what's typical for the evening mass.

 

[spinnaker]

While not a guarantee, I have new information that it may indeed swing at noon today.

 

[spinnaker]

Pleased to report that it did swing today, July 6th at the noon Mass!

 

[DJames]

you can email the cathedral to set up a date to reserve the bota. Which I did on June 2 7:30 mass. Theyreserve two pews in the south transcept. I walked to honor my father who died in September 2022 and this Camino helped me say goodbye.

The mass was special and the priest mentioned my father’s name. The best part was not the swinging of the bota. But the presence of my new Camino friends who sat with me to experience this very moving mass. I boo hoo’d in the arms of my new found friends.

Was it expensive? I looked at it this way. I won’t go to Starbucks for a coffee each day for awhile. The donation to the cathedral was much more satisfying.

 

[Paula P]

you can email the cathedral to set up a date to reserve the bota. Which I did on June 2 7:30 mass. Theyreserve two pews in the south transcept. I walked to honor my father who died in September 2022 and this Camino helped me say goodbye.

The mass was special and the priest mentioned my father’s name. The best part was not the swinging of the bota. But the presence of my new Camino friends who sat with me to experience this very moving mass. I boo hoo’d in the arms of my new found friends.

Was it expensive? I looked at it this way. I won’t go to Starbucks for a coffee each day for awhile. The donation to the cathedral was much more satisfying.

DJames... I am so sorry on the loss of your father. I'm glad that the experience at the cathedral was so moving for you. We, too, had considered reserving the botafumeiro ourselves. How far in advance did you email them to reserve? I know it is expensive but as you say, it goes to the church and this may be a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you for your reply. It's good to hear from someone who has done this. Again sincere condolences.

 

[DJames]

Thanks Paula. This is interesting. I initially reserved in January 2023 for noon mass on Saturday June 3 Then I got an email about three weeks before asking if I would be willing to change due to the installation of the new archbishop which was set for June 3. So we agreed to the Friday night mass.

The cathedral was very responsive and were accommodating as well.

Literally the best part was to experience with people I had only met 5 days before. There was also room for one more person so I was able to help someone who was sitting behind one of the columns to come sit with us. She was happy!

 

[henrythedog]

Although you will not be told in advance that the botafumeiro will be in use, you can be told whether or not it is possible to book it. The two are mutually exclusive if it’s somehow important to you to see it in use.

Condolences to DJames for the loss of their father.

 

[Paula P]

I am having trouble with the email address that is listed on the cathedral site. My Gmail says the address is not recognized?

 

[henrythedog]

I am having trouble with the email address that is listed on the cathedral site. My Gmail says the address is not recognized?

botafumeiro@catedraldesantiago.es

 

[Paula P]

botafumeiro@catedraldesantiago.es

That is the one I am trying to use. Is there a problem with trying to send an email through Gmail to an overseas country?

 

[Paula P]

Never mind. It wouldn't work from my laptop but it did go through when I used my phone!

 

[Eugene Carroll]

I went to the Pilgrims Mass in the Cathedral Thursday and it was in full swing( pardon the pun). The Cathedral was packed so get there early if you want a seat….otherwise it is standing room only.