Hi Magnificent Photos of Yesterday’s Feast Day of Saint James Celebration
You all know by now that my ending point of my 800 Km adventure will be the city of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Yesterday was the Feast Day of St. James. I wanted to post some AMAZING photos with a few explanations of what you are about to see.
Cathedral of St. James in Santiago de Compostela, Spain
The Feast Day of St James
Many people in Spain celebrate the life and deeds of James, son of Zebedee, on Saint James’ Day (Santiago Apostle), which is on July 25. Saint James was one of Jesus’ first disciples. Some Christians believe that his remains are buried in Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
A Bit of The Religious Background
St James, son of Zebedee, was an apostles and a brother of John the Apostle, according to Christian belief. He lived at the same time as Jesus. He may have traveled to the area that is now Santiago de Compostela.
St James was beheaded in Judea in the year 44 CE. Some Christians believe that his disciples carried his body by sea to Padrón on the Galician coast. They then buried his body under what is now the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
St James’ relics were discovered sometime between 791 CE and 842 CE. Santiago de Compostela then became a place of pilgrimage. Pope Leo XIII confirmed that the relics of St James at Compostela were authentic.
Photos from Yesterday’s Celebration
The scallop shell is used to mark a network of pilgrimage routes. These routes lead to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela from many European countries.Thousands of people walk along the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela each year.
I am trying to show you the various scenes that were shown against the Cathedral. Below each photo is an historical reason why these scenes may have been chosen for this year’s celebration.
Notice the pilgrim shadows on the wall. Why choose those?
You will notice how they depicted this place along the route by showing the Pilgrim Shadows on the Cathedral. If you look closely enough at the photo you will also see what looks like a series of stamps.
The function of the pilgrims passport is to record the places where you have passed it will be stamped with the albergue’s (hostel) logo in every albergue you sleep in.
Besides, nearly every bar, hostel or associations along El Camino will have their own stamp for you and stamp it in you credential.
The reasons for doing this are two.
Firstly, it is a proof that you are a real pilgrim and you are not cheating travelling by car (because you will have stamps on it from places where you can’t access by car).
Secondly,
You will also need the Pilgrims Credential if you want to get the Compostela in Santiago’s cathedral. La Compostela is a diploma that the Catholic Church issues to honour the pilgrims who have walked the Camino. Your name will be printed in Latin. To get it you must have done at least the last 100km of the Camino on foot.
You will get a different colour depending on whether you have done the pilgrimage with a Christian meaning – “devotionis affectu, voti vel pietatis causa” or for other reasons.
HAPPY FEAST DAY of Saint James!
KEEP WALKING!
- Factual information is from : http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/spain/santiago-apostle
Dan
We love reading your blogs. The research you have done and the passion in which you present the information are a true testament to your devotion. Yes, this is a physical journey, however it is going to be a spiritual and transforming one as well. Way to go our friend. March on! March on! March on!