A little bit of pilgram history

Ive learned a lot about the history of El Camino in the last few days, while walking.

Firstly, El Camino during the Medieval times was a Catholic pilgramage often for penance, made by people to had committed a crime or a great sin. Leaving their homes, people made their way towards Santiago de Compostela, walking many miles across Europe and often dying along the way. I imagine that many sick or elderly people were walking to get healing in Santiago, but could not cross the mountains or the desertous meseta. So, vultures followed the pilgrams, circle to pick the carrion from those that fell by the wayside. Upon arriving in Santiago, pilgrams received their official pardon from the Catholic church and a certificate saying that their sins had been forgiven. From there, pilgrams walked to Finesterre ("the end of the world"), to the Atlantic Ocean, to burn their clothes and wash in the sea. Can you imagine arriving at the very edge of the world, as it was known in Medieval time, to see the setting sun on the ocean? Also, pilgrams took from the ocean a scallop shell to bring home, as proof of their journey and a sign of their forgiveness. When pilgrams were received back, the scallop shell was proof that they could be reconciled and brought into the life of the community.

The scallop shell is a beautiful symbol of the Camino. Along with yellow markers, scallop shells painted on buildings are signals that you are correctly following the trail. Also, all of the different lines along the edge of the shell that lead to the middle is symbolic of the many paths that join El Camino. I like this idea that people come from many different places, many walks of life, many motivations and walk along the same path in the end.

I was taught the ancient song about El Camino by a french woman and man named Isabel and Allen one day as I took a break to drink cafe au lait. The chorus is in Latin and says "ultreia," meaning "walk on, keep walking," an encouragement to finish the trail. There is imagery of Santiago (Saint James) standing by the ocean, arms stretched out, calling to the pilgrams. Some of the words tell of following the stars and walking through the trials along the path. It is beautiful! I think that if you google it, you could find a link.