Roads, like water, are never the same twice and the Camino de Santiago is no exception. That's why we want to contribute and inform you about this xacobeo year 2021 that is extended in the xacobeo year 2022, a different and inspiring fact.
Doing the Camino de Santiago is not a requirement to celebrate the Jacobean year but many pilgrims take advantage of this celebration to do it. It is worth it because in addition to the experience it provides, at the end of the journey they will be rewarded with a great spiritual richness.
Xacobeo 2021 is the 120th Holy Year in history. We are talking about a very special date, since it has not been celebrated for eleven years.
Jacobean year or xacobeo, in Galician, is an adjective that refers to that which belongs to or relates to the Apostle Santiago. The original name of the Apostle is Jacob and some of its derivations, such as Jacobo.
Every year on July 25th is declared a Xacobean year or Compostela's Holy Year, Santiago Apostle's Daycoincides on a Sunday, which happens up to 14 times every century.
It is the peak of the Camino de Santiago, because Christians can obtain the plenary indulgence. And also the Holy Door of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is opened for pilgrims.
Throughout history, these holy years have led pilgrims from all corners of the world to the tomb of St. James the Apostle to cleanse their souls, the last Xacobean year was 2010.
Because of leap years, the holy years are in this order: 6-5-6-6-11 years.
It was Pope Calixtus II who established the Xacobean year in 1126 and so it was celebrated for the first time. Although the first documented pilgrimages are from the ninth century when the tomb of the Apostle James was discovered. After this discovery it became a worldwide pilgrimage destination, a cultural and religious destination known worldwide, and today its capacity to attract pilgrims is still booming.
This Xacobean year 2021 has the particularity of lasting 2 years in an exceptional way due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It is considered the longest street in Europe and that is why every kilometer is magical and special for the pilgrim. Hundreds of thousands of people walk it, on foot, by bicycle and also on horseback. And the vast majority of the time they do it accompanied by friends or family, because the Way of St. James is a place of encounters, even for solo pilgrims..
The thousands of pilgrims who embark on the experience of walking the Camino have different motivations. Whether for personal improvement, religious or cultural attraction, the Xacobean year is usually the most crowded, especially in the months of June and July. This celebration is an exceptional opportunity, a date awaited by Christians from all over the world.
Winning the Jubilee is the goal for Christians who walk the Camino de Santiago in the Holy Year. It means obtaining the plenary indulgence or, in other words, the forgiveness of all sins granted by the Church. This can only be done in five cities in the world: Compostela, Rome, Jerusalem, Santo Toribio and Caravaca de la Cruz.
There are three points to have in order to obtain leniency:
It is not necessary to walk the Way of St. James to gain the plenary indulgence. This grace can be gained once a day and can be applied to deceasedin communion with all saintsThe hope is that this help will lead them to heaven.
"May the Holy Spirit revive our faith and that of all pilgrims, and make this Xacobean Year a year of grace for all those who in body or in spirit visit this basilica of Santiago de Compostela during our year." Archbishop of Santiago Julián Barrio
Xacobeo 2021 was inaugurated in the unprecedented context of a world pandemic due to Covid-19 and the Holy See has considered that the safest option is to extend it to 2022. The aim of this decision is to avoid crowds and thus allow more pilgrims to gain indulgences and make pilgrimages during the Holy Year.
The Holy Door of the Cathedral of Santiago was opened on December 31, 2020, the opening ritual of the Xacobean year. But this time it was different, Pope Francis announced the extension of the religious benefits of the Jubilee during 2022. Although this is an exceptional event, it is not the first time that a Xacobean year is double. In 1937, in the midst of the Civil War, Pope Pius XII decided to extend the so-called Jubilee graces during 1938.
"Our deep gratitude for this grace to the Holy Father". I wish that "Santiago be that shining beacon for the whole of society". Archbishop Julián Barrio said that day.
Another special feature of this Xacobean year is that it has been declared as a "Event of Exceptional Public Interest." In order to accompany and support the celebration, Royal Decree-Law 17/2020, of May 5, approving measures to support the cultural sector and tax measures to address the economic and social impact of covid-19, extended the event of exceptional public interest until September 30, 2022.
Concerts, exhibitions, conferences, lectures and meetings are some of the activities included in the plan designed by the Xunta de Galicia. Where the goal of the organizers will be:
There are many restrictions on mobility that affect the territories through which the Camino de Santiago passes, during this health crisis generated by Covid-19. Although the situation worldwide is improving, the fact that it is taking place during the Xacobean year does not exempt us from complying with all the sanitary measures that are in force.
For this reason, the Xunta de Galicia has elaborated a "Emergency guide for the pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago". which includes practical advice for pilgrims, self-protection measures and information in case of emergency.
It is necessary to take into account that each Autonomous Community may establish its own rules regarding capacity restrictions, group activities, public transportation, etc., so it is important to be constantly informed.
There is an application launched by the National Police and the Civil Guard that will help pilgrims to make a safe pilgrimage. It will be possible to alert of crimes, share location with security forces in case of emergency and receive citizen security alerts wherever the pilgrim is.
Royal Decree-Law 21/2020 of June 9 established the mandatory use of face masks for persons over 6 years of age in any place where it is not possible to maintain an interpersonal safety distance of at least 1.5 meters and in means of transport.
The hostels of the Camino de Santiago can modify their offer of places to adapt to the different regulations, vary their opening date or even remain closed. It is suggested as a possible organization of the overnight groups the grouping by families or pilgrimage groups. It is necessary to have an alternative available in case there is not enough room in the hostels along the route.
Updated information on these issues can be found in the cell phone application "Camino de Santiago" of the National Geographic Institute.
It also requires greater attention to cleaning and disinfection procedures of rooms and toilets after the departure of pilgrims in the morning. Special importance is given to the disinfection of common toilets, recommended a minimum of six times a day, especially during the time pilgrims stay in the hostel.
In the hostels along the Camino, it is customary to pay the donation in cash; to avoid, as far as possible, the manipulation of cash, it could be established, where possible, the payment of the donation in cash. donation by electronic means.
It is also recommended that pilgrims making the Camino on horseback leave all belongings related to the animal in the stable or area provided for this use.
