Increasing number of Pilgrims

Using the statistics available from the Cathedral in Santiago (http://peregrinossantiago.es/eng/pilgrims-office/statistics/) it is possible to look at how Pilgrim numbers are increasing overall by mode of transport from 2004 (when the records on this site begin) to 2015:

(Remember 2004 and 2010 were Holy Years)

By foot Pilgrim numbers are steadily increasing (if you exclude the Holy Years)

Biking Pilgrims are not showing such a clear pattern- Holy Years do show an increase but after 2011 their numbers seem to be decreasing

Except for the two Holy Years there does not seem to be any pattern in the number of Pilgrims travelling by horse but this is quite a specialised area requiring more planning and back-up than other methods

Again no pattern here

Overall numbers are definitely increasing

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The Camino Primitivo

The Camino Primitivo (or the Original Way) is reportedly the very first Camino Way to Santiago in the 9 th century when most of Spain was under the control of the Moors and it runs from near the city of Ovideo in Asturias as it starts in Villavicosa (which also lies on the Camino Norte so many people follow this Way from Basque city of San Sebastian (Donosti in Basque) or in from the French border at Irun ( this route then hugs the Bay of Biscay passing through Guernica, Bilbao, Santander, Llanes before going under the Picos de Europa and then heads along the coast to Ovideo) before branching off onto the Primitivo which goes across the mountains and through the city of Lugo before joining the Frances at Melide. The route is 320km long. Image taken from https://viaalpina2013.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/camino-del-norte-camino-primitivo/

Symbols of the three main Christian Pilgrimages

The symbol of the Pilgrim to Santiago is the Scallop shell of which many can be found on the coast of Galicia and it is actually a symbol of the Pilgrimage (and has become a symbol of other Christian Pilgrimages too) partly because you could find the shell easily there and so could go back home and show it off as proof that you had done the Pilgrimage. It has also been included in carvings in some Churches.

Camino Mascot

Those who have walked the Camino will probably have seen one or more of the Camino mascots along the Way but do you know their names? http://m.elcorreogallego.es/xacobeo/ecg/xubi-jubila-pelegrin-mascota-xacobea/idEdicion-2010-06-08/idNoticia-555962/

On the Camino

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