The History of the Way of St. James: Camino Explained

Saint James the Greater was one of Jesus’s 12 disciples. He is often depicted with a walking staff and a scallop shell, which makes good sense if you have walked the Camino.

The scallop shell comes from the stories of the apostle’s sea voyages. The official symbol of the Way of St. James is also a scallop shell, and Saint James is regarded as the patron saint of Spain.

So what is the Way of St. James, really? In short, the Way of St. James is also what most people call the Camino. Most people refer to the Camino as the French Way, which is around 800 kilometres long, starts in France and takes place mainly in Spain. The Way of St. James is what is also known as the Camino de Santiago, a huge pilgrim network across the whole of Europe.

It would therefore be a shame to think of the Way of St. James as a single route, because it is a whole host of routes, all tied to the same old story of a legend that reaches right back to the beginning of our era.

Why is it called the Way of St. James?

The reason the Camino is also called the Way of St. James is the stories that Saint James is buried in the cathedral in the city of Santiago de Compostela.

The great pilgrim network, which in Spanish is called El Camino de Santiago, is called The Way of St. James in English. The route is named after one of Jesus’s most famous disciples, who is said to have travelled to Spain to spread the message that Jesus had risen again.

The 25th of July: celebrating St. James’s Day

Saint James was a martyr who fell victim to the persecutions of Roman times. On the 25th of July, people celebrate the life and death that Saint James met on this date. Afterwards his body was brought to Santiago de Compostela by the apostle’s followers.

For more than 1,000 years, pilgrims have travelled the route to follow in Saint James’s footsteps.

The symbol of the Way of St. James

The symbol of the Way of St. James is a scallop shell, because in the Christian tradition Saint James is often depicted with a scallop shell. So when you set out to walk the Camino, you follow the route by keeping an eye out for scallop shells and yellow arrows.

Walking the Way of St. James is often very simple, because thousands of pilgrims have walked the same route you are about to set out on. Would you like to take on a Camino? Then you can read more about what it actually takes to become an official pilgrim.

What does it take to walk the Way of St. James?

As mentioned, there are walking routes all over Europe that are part of the great network Camino de Santiago. We also have several Danish Camino routes that you can read about here on the site over time.

In principle anyone who can walk can take on the Way of St. James. If you want to be part of something bigger, you can get a pilgrim passport, which is also called a Credencial.

A Credencial is proof that you are on a pilgrimage. In it you can collect stamps at hostels, cafés and other places, where in some cases you get benefits by showing your passport.

If you want to walk the Way of St. James and have a certificate for it, you need to have walked the last 100 kilometres before reaching Santiago de Compostela. There you can then be issued what is called a Compostela.

You can, however, easily walk a Camino without being Christian and without getting a certificate. A pilgrim passport is still a good idea on the Way of St. James, as it lets you stay at any hostel and take up the offer of a three-course pilgrim menu.

Walking the Way of St. James can be a tough undertaking. There are many different kinds of routes, and therefore a big difference in what gear you need and what is required of you physically.

Worth knowing before you walk the Way of St. James

How pilgrims prepare to walk the Way of St. James varies a great deal. You do not have to know all the stories before you set off, because you have plenty of chances to immerse yourself along the historic route.

The terrain on the Way of St. James is very varied depending on where you are. As mentioned, the Way of St. James is found in many places across Europe, and even the best-known Camino Francés varies enormously in terrain.

Since the Middle Ages, pilgrims have used the Way of St. James, and people happily share their experiences. If you want to be well prepared before your first Camino, we are steadily writing plenty of articles about the route here on the site.

I hope you have become a little wiser about what the Way of St. James really is. I have had some of the best experiences of my life while walking it, and I look forward to sharing many more with passionate pilgrims who are just as keen to walk this wonderful network. Thank you for reading.