holy year

[tony graham]

last year I walked the Camino from St Jean to Santiago,I finished my walk on 6th September,it was incredible.This year I would like to take my wife for 2 weeks on one of my favourite stretches of the Camino,we were thinking of going the last week in May, the question is will we hit crowds of walkers? or will it be fairly quiet?

[Sil]

Tony, although you don't say which stretch you want to walk, I think the entire camino Frances will be busy this year. May is one of the most popular months and the largest numbers of pilgrims leaving St Jean do so in May and August. Of course this year, many will try to make Santiago for the 25th July.
I think anyone walking this year will have to embrace the idea that it will be busy, joyous, fun and a great celebration.

[sunflower]

What is the reason for so many people trying to get to Santiago by 25 July?

[Sil]

Just like other saints (eg: St Patricks' Day), St James (San Tiago) has a feast day and it is on the 25th July.
When the 25th July falls on a Sunday it is a Holy Year. With leap years on the calendar, the 25th July only falls on a Sunday every 6, 5, 6 and 11 years. 2010 is a Holy yEar and the next one will be in 11 years - 2021. In a Holy Year, Catholic pilgrims can earn plenary indulgences - full remission of all their sins. You don?t have to walk to the tomb of St James in a Holy Year to obtain a full plenary indulgence. Just visit the tomb.

In the early middle ages the 30 December was St James? Feast day, based on the old Hispanic (Mozarabic) rite. In the 11th century King Alfonso VI abolished the Hispanic rite in favour of the Roman rite and July 25 became the principal feast day to commemorate the martyrdom of St. James. December 30 was incorporated into the present liturgical calendar as the Feast of the Translation of his relics.
And, just to confuse matters more although we celebrate his Feast Day on 25th July using the Roman Rite calendar, it was formerly on the 5th August on the Tridentine Rite calendar.

The plenary indulgence is given, not only in Holy Years, but also in ordinary years on Easter Sunday; 21st April (the anniversary of the consecration of the cathedral); and on St James's three feast days. (25th July, 30 December and 23 May).

Xacobeo is an organisation based in Galicia that was formed during the 1999 holy year and this year is going all out to provide festivals and celebrations during the holy year. The fesitivies begin a few days before the 25th July and continue for a few days after.

It is going to be one big party in Santiago!