One of the most fascinating and exciting events in Santiago de Compostela is the Feast of Saint James. Traditional legend states that this saint brought Christianity to the Iberian Peninsula and checked the spread of the Moors (Coffey 1996), so commemorating Saint James in this way has been a time-honored tradition in a nation with deep roots in Catholicism. Check out the schedule for the celebration here! Since Santiago de Compostela is where the remains of the city’s patron saint was supposedly found, this celebration is a days long event that leads up to honoring Saint James on July 25. Oftentimes, people will make their pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela end on the 25th, so that they can end their journey with a big celebration the night before and attend religious observances the next day. The streets are filled with street performers and parades; classic food dishes will be available to purchase everywhere; and music plays loudly in the city as locals celebrate Senor Santiago (Saint James). Check out a fireworks and lightshow illuminating the cathedral’s facade that one traveler recorded at the Plaza del Obradoiro on the 24th. Students will get to practice their language skills and immerse themselves into culture while also partying hard with the locals!
One of the religious observances is held in this Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, and it includes ceremoniously swinging a botafumeiro (a type of censer that holds incense) via a pulley system that was installed in 1604. It weighs about 80 kg and must be swung by multiple clergymen. In this video, you can see the botafumeiro while listening to the beautiful sound of an organ and vocal accompaniment resonating in the nave. If you would like to visit this cathedral, it is free to enter and explore the main nave; if you would like a more detailed tour to visit the roof, the attached museums, or the beautiful botafumeiro, you will need to purchase a ticket here or at the cathedral itself, although large groups are encouraged to book tours in advance. This tour is estimated to be about two hours long–an excellent outing that is inexpensive for all students!
Works Cited
Coffey, Thomas F., et al. “The Miracles of St. James: Translations from the Liber Sancti Jacobi.” Italica Press, Inc., 1996. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1t88vn5.
“Feast of St. James Santiago de Compostela Dia de Santiago.” YouTube. uploaded by Mad Traveler, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9knrudDiR0.
“Festival of St. James, Santiago de Compostella 2017 | Camino de Santiago.” YouTube. uploaded by Cruisin’ with the Colemans, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZraNd2G7FxI.
“Feast of Saint James the Apostle 2024 in Spain.” Time and Date, 2023, https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/spain/santiago-apostle.
“Santiago de Compostela Cathedral Guided Tour.” Hellotickets. https://www.hellotickets.com/spain/santiago-de-compostela/cathedral-guided-tour/a/pa-1990.
“Swinging the Censer at Santiago de Compostela, Spain.” YouTube. uploaded by Anthony W, 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-N_kvq4JJY.