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The pilgrim's staff is a
. Navarre Tourism Board. In Rome, in the
figure 1
but is some the hook is wanting, and when this is the case it is scarcely distinguishable from a pastoral staff as borne by some of the monasteries: it is shown i
figure 2
While, too, it is represented under different forms, it is blazoned as will be seen also, under different names, e.g. a pilgrim's crutch, a crutch-staff, &c., but there is no reason to suppose that the different names can be correlated with different figures. The crutch, perhaps, should be represented with the transverse piece on the top of the staff (like the letter T) instead of across it
/ref> The pilgrim's staff has a strong association with the veneration of
File:EscudoCangasMorrazo.svg,
File:Pilgrims staff.svg,
File:Bever_wappen.svg,
File:Jakobsweg - Pilger 1568 - Hurden IMG 5664.JPG,
St James Major and the Pilgrim's staff
Christian pilgrimages Christian symbols Heraldic charges Walking sticks {{heraldry-stub
The pilgrim's staff is a walking stick
A walking stick or walking cane is a device used primarily to aid walking, provide postural stability or support, or assist in maintaining a good posture. Some designs also serve as a fashion accessory, or are used for self-defense.
Walking sti ...
used by Christian pilgrim
A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) who is on Pilgrimage, a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journey (often on foot) to some place of special significance to the a ...
s during their pilgrimages
A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, aft ...
, like the Way of St. James
The Camino de Santiago ( la, Peregrinatio Compostellana, "Pilgrimage of Compostela"; gl, O Camiño de Santiago), known in English as the Way of St James, is a network of pilgrims' ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the Twelve Apostle ...
to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, in northwestern Spain. The city has its origin in the shrine of Saint James the Great, now the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, as the destination of the Way of St ...
in Spain or the Via Francigena The Via Francigena () is an ancient road and pilgrimage route running from the cathedral city of Canterbury in England, through France and Switzerland, to Rome and then to Apulia, Italy, where there were ports of embarkation for the Holy Land. It w ...
to Rome.Pilgrim's Way to Santiago in Navarre: Curiosities. Navarre Tourism Board. In Rome, in the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
the pilgrims used to leave their stick in the church of San Giacomo Scossacavalli (not far from St. Peter), whose first denomination was ''San Salvatore de Bordonia'', where ''Bordone'' is the Italian word for Stick.Gigli (1992) p. 8Borgatti (1926) p. 156 After that, they bought a new stick by sellers named ''Vergari'' (''verga'' is another term for stick), whose shops were in today's Borgo Santo Spirito near the church of Santa Maria dei Vergari.Borgatti (1926) p. 51
Background
Generally, the stick has a hook on it so that something may be hung from it. The walking stick sometimes has a cross piece on it.Pilgrim's or Palmer's Staff, (fr. bourdon): this was used as a device in a coat of arms as early at least as Edward II.'s reign, as will be seen. The Staff and the Escallop shell(q.v.) were the badge of the pilgrim, and hence it is but natural it should find its way into the shields of those who had visited the Holy Land. The usual form of representation ifigure 1
but is some the hook is wanting, and when this is the case it is scarcely distinguishable from a pastoral staff as borne by some of the monasteries: it is shown i
figure 2
While, too, it is represented under different forms, it is blazoned as will be seen also, under different names, e.g. a pilgrim's crutch, a crutch-staff, &c., but there is no reason to suppose that the different names can be correlated with different figures. The crutch, perhaps, should be represented with the transverse piece on the top of the staff (like the letter T) instead of across it
/ref> The pilgrim's staff has a strong association with the veneration of
Saint James the Great
James the Great, also known as James, son of Zebedee, Saint James the Great, Saint James the Greater, Saint James the Elder, or Saint Jacob (Aramaic ܝܥܩܘܒ ܒܪ ܙܒܕܝ, Arabic يعقوب, Hebrew בן זבדי , '' Yaʿăqōḇ'', Latin '' ...
and the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
The pilgrim's staff is also a heraldic device
A heraldic badge, emblem, impresa, device, or personal device worn as a badge indicates allegiance to, or the property of, an individual, family or corporate body. Medieval forms are usually called a livery badge, and also a cognizance. They are ...
.
Gallery
See also
*Cross of Saint James
The Cross of Saint James, also known as the Santiago cross, ''cruz espada,'' or Saint James' Cross, is a heraldic badge that is cruciform in design. The cross, shaped as a cross fitchy, combines with either a cross fleury or a cross moline. Its ...
*Pilgrim badge
Pilgrim badges are decorations worn by some of those who undertake a Christian pilgrimage to a place considered holy by the Church. They became very popular among Catholics in the later medieval period. Typically made of lead alloy, they were sold ...
*Jacob's staff
The term Jacob's staff is used to refer to several things, also known as cross-staff, a ballastella, a fore-staff, a ballestilla, or a balestilha. In its most basic form, a Jacob's staff is a stick or pole with length markings; most staffs ar ...
*Pilgrim's hat
A pilgrim's hat, ''cockel hat'' or ''traveller's hat'' is a wide brim hat used to keep off the sun.
Background
The pilgrim's hat traditionally had a scallop shell emblem. This is thought to be a reference to the Christian legend that, after S ...
*Khakkhara
A khakkhara ( sa, khakkhara; ; , sometimes referred to in English as a pewter staff, is a staff topped with metal rings traditionally carried by Buddhist monks, particularly in East Asian Buddhism.
Originally used as a noisemaker to announce a m ...
References
Sources
* *External links
St James Major and the Pilgrim's staff
Christian pilgrimages Christian symbols Heraldic charges Walking sticks {{heraldry-stub