[Gocamino] Botafumeiro

[blaroli at aol.com]

Hello,
The Botafumeiro is very much a matter of concern to?those Archdiocese's planners for 2010. There has also been a worry, for sometime, that its use has become a spectacle rather than the?part of religious services which is meant to be.
The practical consensus seems to me that the Botafumeiro not be used at all during the next Holy Year, to avoid rushes... disappointments... false promises on the part of disingenous tourism operators, etc.
It will probably be used only on high holidays, such as Easter Sunday and Christmas, and, of course, July 25th.? It may also be used on significant Cathedral ceremonies such as the opening and the closing of the Puerta Santa when dignitaries from all over Europe, and Spain's reigning monarchs, will be present and security is highlighted.
When I was there for the opening of the Puerta Santa on December 31, 2003, the King and the Queen were there, together with a plethora of high officials. There were metal detectors and all sorts of security measures at the door. Nevertheless, I had no trouble going in with a large umbrella and several cameras, and the only thing between the monarchs and me were the TV and newspaper cameras and reporters.? When I was there for the closing of the Puerta Santa, on December? 31, 2004, Prince Felipe and Princess Leticia were there, attended to by the Preesident of the Xunta, Manual Braga.... and the security and panoply were something else.....(The prince and princess are HUGELY popular).
And Oh!....... what an evening, and night, that was!!!!!.... words fail me.
(Now that I've sort of learned how to send pictures here, I'll look around for that night's pictures and post them).

Those of us that will visit Santiago this year, or next, will continue to enjoy the unparallelled emotion-provoking glorious flight of the BotAFUMEIRO.

Hugs!

Rosina
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