Glossary
Albergue : inn for travellers
Year of St. James, Holy Year, Compostellan Year : since 1119, the feast of St. James (July 25) has fallen on a Sunday. During the Holy Year, the Holy Door is open and pilgrims can obtain a plenary indulgence for their sins. (2010, 2021, 2027)
Azabaches : small devotional objects brought back from Santiago by pilgrims (15th-18th centuries).
Besace: shoulder bag
Botafumeiro: the cathedral’s giant censer
Bourdon: walking stick
Calabash: gourd
Camino: path
Capeline: pilgrim’s hat
Cheminant: a person who takes to the road.
Clavijo: site of the battle where, in 844 AD, Asturian King Ramiri I defeated the Amir of Cordoba Abd al-Rahman II thanks to the miraculous intervention of Saint James.
Créanciale: pilgrim’s booklet issued by the ecclesiastical authorities
Crédencial: pilgrim’s booklet issued by lay jacque associations and brotherhoods
Codex Calixtinus : a collection of liturgical, historical and hagiographic texts dedicated to Saint James.
Compostela: pilgrimage certificate issued in Santiago by the Santiago de Compostela cathedral pilgrims’ office.
Coquillard: brigand, thief, trickster, false pilgrim
Donativo: accommodation offering room and board at the pilgrim’s or walker’s own expense.
Fisterrana: pilgrimage certificate issued in Fisterra, not recognized by the Church
Hospitable: volunteers providing hospitality in gites, refugios or albergues
Plenary indulgence: a plenary indulgence is granted to pilgrims who have gone to confession and attended mass in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela during a Holy Year.
Jacquet: person undertaking a journey to Santiago de Compostela
Matamore: depiction of Saint James perched on a horse and armed with a sword, slaying all the Moors in his path at the battle of Clavijo.
Menú del día: in Spain, menu of the day (including main course, starter, dessert, wine or water).
Menú del peregrino: in Spain, special pilgrim menu served at 7:30 pm (includes main course, starter, dessert, wine or water).
Meseta : high plateau (average altitude: 660 m) in the center of the Iberian Peninsula
Muxiana: pilgrim’s certificate issued in Muxía, not recognized by the Church
Parador: in Spain, a state-run luxury hotel housed in a palace or historic residence.
Pilgrim: a person making the journey from a Christian perspective
Pèlerine: short cape
Pintxos: in the Basque Country, small appetizers consisting of a piece of bread on which one or more ingredients are placed, held together by a wooden pick(pintxo in Basque).
Holy Door: Santiago de Compostela Cathedral’s Holy Door, which opens onto Plaça de la Quintana, is open on December 31 of the year preceding theHoly Year, and remains so all year round.
Refugio: bed and breakfast for hikers
Tapas: in Spain, small appetizers composed of several ingredients and served on a plate.
Tiraboleiro: person in charge of operating the botafumeiro
Traslatioxacobea: pilgrimage certificate issued by Padrón Tourist Office
Ultreïa, susseïa: to go further, higher. It was the rallying cry of pilgrims in the Middle Ages.