Happy Day of St. James! On July 25th, Santiago de Compostela celebrates the Apostle Santiago, otherwise known as St. James.
When did this day start? We know that the Codex Calixtinus mentions it as the Feast of St. James so faithful pilgrims have been celebrating this special day since at least the Middle Ages. The celebration does not mark the Apostle Santiago’s birth, but rather his death in 44 A.D. We have no historical data pointing to July 25 as being the day of his death but records indicate that by the 10th century, pilgrims walking to Santiago de Compostela hoped to arrive on this date to receive forgiveness from their sins.
When the day of St. James falls on a Sunday, it becomes a Holy Year. Those years of jubilee are marked with surges of pilgrims who walk the Camino de Santiago. 2021 will be a monumental year because it’s a Holy Year and in particular because so many pilgrims have had to postpone their Camino experience during the COVID pandemic.
During a typical celebration for St. James’ Day, Santiago is transformed into a joyful mix of international pilgrims and locals who participate in elaborate fireworks displays, parades, and a celebratory mass that includes the King and Queen of Spain. One delicacy to enjoy in Santiago is known as the tarta de santiago, which is a sweet almond cake dusted in powdered sugar!
Madison enjoyed it during her 2017 trip to Santiago!
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