The Jubilee or Jacobean year (Xacobeo) is the year when the day of St James the Apostle (25th of July) falls on a Sunday. This happens about 14 times each century. Every 6, 5, 6 and 11 years apparently. This was decreed by Pope Calixtus II in 1126 and coincided with the laying of the last stone at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. On a Holy year (Año Xacobeo), pilgrims arriving at Santiago Cathedral are granted forgiveness for all their sins and the cleansing of their soul. Christians call this earning the Jubilee. To earn the Jubilee, or obtain forgiveness for your sins, pilgrims will need to fulfil the following requirements –
Pilgrims are also encouraged to attend the Holy Mass at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. There are only 5 cities in the world where the Jubilee can be earned – Santiago de Compostela, Rome, Jerusalem, Santo Toribio and Caravaca de la Cruz.
One ceremony of note in a Holy Year is the opening of the Holy Door or Puerta Santa. On the eve of a Holy Year, on the afternoon of 31st December, the Archbishop of Santiago ceremonially opens the Holy Door which is at the back of Santiago Cathedral and leads on to Quintana Plaza. Using a silver hammer, the Archbishop will strike the wall of the Holy Door and ask the Apostle for permission to enter. The Holy Door is opened and remains so for the next 12 months. During Holy Year pilgrims will only enter the Cathedral through this door. The next Holy Years will be 2027, and 2032.
The Camino del Norte is an absolutely stunning route steeped in beauty, culture and history. The Northern Way starts in Irún and there are 35 sections and 820 kilometres before you arrive in Santiago de Compostela. This route crosses the whole of the north of Spain. It´s an absolute gem, following the Cantabrian coastline from France to Galicia.
Often overshadowed by the more popular and transited French and Portuguese Way, The Camino del Norte is an absolute gem of a route. The Camino de Santiago originated in ancient times as a pilgrimage taking Christians to visit the tomb of Saint James (Santiago). All routes take you to the Galician city of Santiago de Compostela, and more specifically Santiago Cathedral.
The Jubilee or Jacobean year (Xacobeo) is the year when the day of St James the Apostle (25th of July) falls on a Sunday. This happens about 14 times each century. Every 6, 5, 6 and 11 years apparently. This was decreed by Pope Calixtus II in 1126 and coincided with the laying of the last stone at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.
The Credencial del Peregrino or Pilgrim´s Passport is a small booklet that you carry with you and get stamped along The Way. Its origins date back to the Middle Ages when the booklet was used quite literally as a passport to provide safe passage to pilgrims travelling to Santiago de Compostela.
Sustainable travel and tourism is at the forefront of everyone´s minds so I wanted to share with you here some observations about the Camino de Santiago and sustainable tourism in rural Galicia. Operating in the most environmentally responsible manner possible is really important to us here at The Way Experiences. We are not a mass market tour operator.
As you make your way along The Camino you will be struck by the variety of the gastronomy on offer. Not just as you travel through the different regions of Spain but even down to the towns and villages you pass through. Here is a taster of a few things to expect and look out for if you are doing the final stretch of The Camino.
