CathyM writes:
I am fascinated with the idea of visiting Spain during Holy Week. In Santiago, does the famous Botafumiero make it's appearance only during special occasions or is it always out?
Any ideas about how booked flights to Spain would be for this time period? I'm flying on a friends and family pass stand-by only.
The Botafumeiro is an incense censer that is said to have been used because the pilgrims who slept in the cloister emitted some foul odors. In normal years, the Botafumiero is only used on Church feast days (Palm Sunday, Easter, Pentecost, etc.). In año Santo you can see it in action more often (Saturday's Pilgrims' Mass, for example).
Trivia: What are the people called who pull the ropes that guide the Botafumeiro??
I have travelled to Madrid several times for Holy Week: Flights are usually very crowded with school children making a Spring Break trip (the Mother of all slumber parties is what I called it). How it will be after 9/11 is really anyone's guess. Palm/Passion Sunday (Mar 24) you may be all right going there; but Friday and Saturday probably wouldn't be very good for stand-by fliers. Even Easter Sunday might be a problem coming back.
Lots of luck! You'll need it.
Answer to my Trivia question: Tiraboleros!
[ 01-15-2002: Message edited by: Eddie ]