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Día de Santiago Overview |
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| Held on July 25th each year the Spanish
festival of Día de Santiago is a major celebration, which is recognised throughout the
Iberian Peninsula. The day's festivities are in homage to Santiago, or St James,
the patron saint of Spain and an Apostle of Christ. |
| It is a widely held Christian belief that
James went to Spain to preach Christianity when the country was under
the influence of the Moors. During this most turbulent point in the dynamic
history of Spain, Santiago became known as Matamoros, or the Moor slayer
and he is now a sacred and legendary part of Spanish cultural life. |
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The significance of the highly regarded festivities
on Día de Santiago is reflected throughout Spain, as everything
closes to celebrate this national holiday in true Spanish style.
The most important ceremonies to mark Día de Santiago are held
each year at the shrine of the saint in the town of Santiago de
Compostela, situated in the north west of the Iberian Peninsula.
The entire province of Coruña and autonomous community of Galicia
is the most famous pilgrimage site in the Christian world, and
a huge number of people follow St James's Way from all across
Europe to arrive at this site, which has the worldwide reputation
of being the final resting place of the popular Saint James.
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The regional celebrations vary slightly from town to town, but
usually include lots of fireworks, huge colourful and noisy parades and a televised mass
that is viewed by a massive audience. After Santiago has been customarily honoured, all
in attendance enjoy a traditional feast consisting of delicious local delicacies, fine wines,
music and dancing until well into the early hours of the next day. Traditionally shells
are also collected in memory of Santiago, as eating oysters on this day is supposed to
guarantee wealth all through the year. |
When July 25th falls on a Sunday, it is proclaimed as Xacobean
Year or Year of the Jubilee and this marks a series of extra special celebrations in
honour of Santiago. |
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Día de Santiago
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Direct Charter Assurance for
travel to the Día de Santiago from www.rentspain.com |
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