On the Camino

I remember the first time that I saw the Easter parades in Spain whilst on Camino I did not know much about them so here is everything I have been able to find out (I know that I post this every year but the link to the dates and times of the parades in Santiago are included). In Spain the Easter processions are organized by 'Co-fradias' or 'The Brotherhoods' and the floats that they carry are called 'tronos'. The people who carry them are called 'Costaleros' (a ' costal' being the small cushion often used to stop the tronos causing sores when being carried - the tronos can weigh up to 6 tons!). A parade in Astorga in 2015

The cross of Saint James may have its origins in the crusades when Knights would wear small crosses with pointed bottoms so that they could be driven into the ground for devotions. The cross is said to represent the chivalrous character of Saint James. A red Cross of Saint James with flourished arms, surmounted with an escallop was the emblem of the 12th century Spanish military Order of Santiago.   Image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_of_Saint_James

As I am a Christian but not a Catholic as I walk the Camino I often attend the Pilgrim Masses but understand little of the services but have now managed to find pdf bilingual Mass books

The Xacobeo and the Saint James' way authorities recognise that part of a Camino lies in Britain.