There are a number of symbols of the Camino de Santiago. I’ll try to offer an explanation of some.
The Pilgrim’s Shell
The Pilgrim’s shell is one of the most well-known symbols of the Camino as many pilgrims hang it from their backpacks as they walk. The shell signals the route to be taken…on a milestone marker, painted on a stone wall, displayed on the side of a building, part of a street sign or imbedded in sidewalk. Originally, it was a symbol of pilgrims who had already arrived in Santiago. Today it is displayed by many pilgrims.
The Yellow Arrows
Which way do we go? Instead of the yellow brick road, we have the yellow arrows. They could be on a milestone marker, painted on the side of a wall or building, part of a street sign or on a tree. They simply indicated which way to follow.
Milestone Markers
These blocks of stones or concrete showed the direction to Santiago as well as the distance left to walk. Several important ones were the 100 km marker (the minimum distance to be walked in order to receive the compostela) and the 0,0 marker at Finisterre, which was thought to be the end of the world at one time.
The Credential
This is the document that each pilgrim carries as they journey towards Santiago. It contains stamps that the pilgrim receives along the way…from the accommodation for the night, restaurants or cafes along the way and churches or chapels. It is stamped at the beginning and end of the walk.
The Compostela
The compostela is a certificate that the pilgrims may request as long as the pilgrimage ends in Santiago. The pilgrim must present their credential with a sufficient number of stamps to receive it.
The Cathedral of Santiago
The cathedral is the point where all the all of the routes in Europe converge. This was the original objective of pilgrims because according to tradition, the remains of St. James, the Apostle of Jesus, is buried in the cathedral.
The Botafumeiro
The botafumeiro is one of the striking parts of the liturgy in the cathedral. It is a large censer that is filled with charcoal and incense during the liturgy and then made to “fly” and swing from one side of the church to the other. It weighs 132 pounds and is 5.2 feet tall. Eight men use the ropes to swing it and it can reach heights of 69 feet and swings at a speed of 42 m/h.
