Culture & Events Articles

Ponferrada is a historic town in the El Bierzo region of north-west Spain and one of the last major stops on the Camino Francés before Santiago de Compostela. It takes its name from a medieval iron-reinforced bridge built for pilgrims, and today it’s best known for its striking Knights Templar castle, its handsome old town,

New Year’s Eve is a time of celebration all around the world, even on the Camino de Santiago. From counting down to midnight and whatever New Year’s Eve tradition you adopt at home, it’s a time when we reflect on the good things the year has brought (and maybe even say good riddance to some

Planning your Camino de Santiago trip? Many interesting festivals take place along the different Camino routes throughout the year, as most towns and villages host annual festivals to honour their patron saint, as well as to celebrate their local food, wine, and other special events. Whether they are world-famous, such as San Fermin in Pamplona, local gastronomic

Ultreia” (pronounced ool-TRAY-ah) is a Latin word meaning “onwards” or “beyond“, used as a traditional greeting and rallying cry between pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. The traditional response is “Et Suseia” (meaning “and upwards”). The phrase dates back to the 12th-century Codex Calixtinus, the earliest known guide to the Camino de Santiago. The Camino

The two main Camino de Santiago waymarks are the yellow arrow and the scallop shell. The yellow arrow always points towards Santiago de Compostela and was created in 1984 by Don Elías Valiña, a parish priest in O Cebreiro. The scallop shell (vieira in Spanish/Galician) is the historic medieval pilgrim symbol, with its lines representing

The scallop shell is one of the most recognisable symbols found along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes. Along with the yellow arrow, it helps guide pilgrims towards Santiago de Compostela from various starting points across Europe. Shells appear painted or carved on trees, tiles, pavements, posts, and walls throughout the journey. Known as vieira

8 Unique Camino Rituals For centuries, pilgrims have walked the Camino de Santiago, leaving behind not only footprints but also a rich legacy of customs and rituals. Many of these traditions began in the Middle Ages and, remarkably, continue to thrive today. But what is it about these rituals that holds such enduring appeal? Is

The Camino de Santiago has inspired many books and films in many languages, both documentaries and works of fiction. In Camino movies, talented writers and filmmakers have reflected on their personal journeys and created fantastic stories for their fictional and yet very real characters, encouraging many to grab their walking boots and experience the Camino

The Pilgrims were people who travelled from England to the Netherlands and then to New England by the beginning of the 17th century. They are nowadays easily related to Thanksgiving Day because, after the first harvest season in New England, they gave thanks to God and to the natives who helped them survive, celebrating for

Camino Culture: The Galician Hórreo If you are walking the Camino de Santiago, you will start noticing some exciting structures close to most homes in rural areas as you enter Galicia. These rectangular structures are granaries called ‘hórreos’, a widespread construction across rural Galicia. Their function is to store grain and other food crops for

Santos Inocentes: The Story Behind Spain’s Day of Mischief We all love a bit of mischief, whether it’s pranks or playfully mocking your friends and family. As long as it’s in good fun and on a specific day, fooling someone with your wily charms is a great use of your time. While most of us

There are many wonderful festivals taking place throughout the year on the Camino de Santiago. One of these is O Magosto, Galicia’s classic autumn festival. This festival welcomes the winter season and is dedicated to one special product: the chestnut. If you are travelling along one of the Camino routes in late October and November,

The Camino Plenary Indulgence You can get the Camino Plenary Indulgence (also known as “The Jubilee”), by walking the Camino’s last 100km or Cycling the Camino’s last 200km to Santiago de Compostela. The doctrine and practice of indulgences in the Church are closely linked to the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession). An Indulgence is the complete