The traditional garb for a pilgrim, on the Camino De Santiago, included a long cape to protect them from the weather and to sleep in. A gourd to carry their drinking water. A stout staff to help them climb slopes and to fend off wild dogs and desperate wolves. A broad brimmed hat for protection from the sun and rain and finally a Scallop shell, which has since become the international symbol of pilgrimage. The modern rucksack would have been unnecessary to early pilgrims, after all it only contains things like clean clothes, towels and equipment to wash with. The early pilgrims personal burden would have been much lighter but their smell would have been much higher! My Scallop is from 2004 and my earlier Camino. The stout stick is made from beech-wood and is from Bovey Tracey on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, England. The copper ferule at it's bass is from Pedro Duarte's Fontaneria (Plumbers) in my village of Yunquera, Spain. The broad brimmed hat is an Akubra "Snowy River" from Sydney, Australia a much used present from my little sister, Pamela.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The traditional garb for a pilgrim, on the Camino De Santiago, included a long cape to protect them from the weather and to sleep in. A gourd to carry their drinking water. A stout staff to help them climb slopes and to fend off wild dogs and desperate wolves. A broad brimmed hat for protection from the sun and rain and finally a Scallop shell, which has since become the international symbol of pilgrimage. The modern rucksack would have been unnecessary to early pilgrims, after all it only contains things like clean clothes, towels and equipment to wash with. The early pilgrims personal burden would have been much lighter but their smell would have been much higher! My Scallop is from 2004 and my earlier Camino. The stout stick is made from beech-wood and is from Bovey Tracey on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, England. The copper ferule at it's bass is from Pedro Duarte's Fontaneria (Plumbers) in my village of Yunquera, Spain. The broad brimmed hat is an Akubra "Snowy River" from Sydney, Australia a much used present from my little sister, Pamela.
