What does it take to become a pilgrim? Do you need
documentation in order to be classed as a “pilgrim”?
The word Pilgrim comes from the Latin
words per (meaning "through") plus ager(meaning
"land, field"), which were combined into the adjective pereger,
used to describe a person traveling abroad. Eventually, this developed
into peregrinus, meaning "a foreigner."
Appropriately enough, the word peregrinus traveled
far and wide (from Latin into Old French, then Middle English, and eventually
modern English). From the very earliest days of Christianity, it was customary
for Christians to journey to places of religious significance. A person making
such a pilgrimage was also known as a peregrinus, which in Late
Latin became peligrinus. In Old French, the word became peligrin,
which was borrowed into English around 1200 as pelegrim orpilegrim,
becoming pilgrim in modern English.
So, the answer is no, you do not need any documentation
in order to “be a Pilgrim”, all you need is a religious place of significance
and mode of transportation. Driving to church on Sunday is a pilgrimage in it’s
own right.
But what does it take to be recognised as
a pilgrim? Well, on the modern-day Camino de Santiago, pilgrims have a
wonderful array of items which all shout “I’m a pilgrim”. These range from the
traditional scallop shell, a Pilgrims Passport filled with stamps, a wide-brim
hat, a backpack, a walking pole, hiking boots, tanned/sunburned forearms &
backs of legs, a blister, or a Compostela! These are all things that you will
recognise when encountering a pilgrim on the road to Santiago de Compostela.
A trail has
finally broken me. I've met a trail that I just can't hack. It's El Camino
Santiago.
I'm pretty
tough mentally. I smile during mountaineering moments when most people cry.
I've hiked nearly 15,000 miles (24,000 km) in the last decade, having a blast
under nearly all conditions. I've never even though about quitting a trail.
Until now.
Walking from
Pamplona to Burgos is murderously dull, yet most say it is much more scenic
than Burgos to Leon. That's when I considered quiting.
It also made
me admire all the pilgrims who are not only able to walk the whole trail, but
to also do it with a smile on their faces! I am clearly not tough enough!
But I won't
quit. Fortunately, I have a solution that will keep me from giving up
completely.
Where is El Camino
Santiago?
The
name El Camino Santiago is deceptive. Its most popular
translated names (the Way of St. James or Le Chemin St. Jacques)
are also misleading. These names imply that there is one trail, one way, one path
to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In fact, ANY
way to Santiago de Compostela is a Camino Santiago. All roads may lead to Rome,
but all caminos lead to Santiago de Compostela.
If you zoom
into the map of Europe on the right, you may notice that one trail is a bit
thicker than the rest. This is the famous Camino Frances, or
the French Trail. It is the most popular way to Santiago de Compostela.
However, the key takeaway from the map is that there are many
caminos.
In short, El
Camino Santiago is the ultimate hike your own hike trail.
Pilgrim Stories: On and Off the Road to Santiago
Oloron-Sainte-Marie
Aulnay de Saintonge
Moissac
Undués de Lerda
Santo Domingo de Silos
