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Botafumeiro used at today's pilgrim mass

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The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
El botafumeiro. Masculine or neuter noun, most definitely not female.
Since it is a vase of sorts, 'It flew' would be the best description.
Using “she” in English for inanimate objects is actually quite common, especially for cars and boats. But it extends to other, often mechanical, items as well.

I personally don’t think I do it, but it doesn’t really make me want to grit my teeth.
 

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We, who work at the Pilgrim Office as volunteers, refer to the Botafumeiro in a neutral gender .e.g. "It." Grammatically, the spelling of the name indicates a male case or point of reference.

So, in reply to the OP, I would say that IT flew - that "the Botafumeiro finally flew again." It's about time. But I understand that they did not want to have another accident. Having a loose screw land on the altar during a Mass must have been VERY unnerving. (That is how the instant renovation started last year.)

I have been honored to be a stand-in tiraboleiro (2022). the Botafumeiro when loaded and lit, it is quite heavy. If it were to break loose in mid-flight, the results could be catastrophic. The Cathedral authorities absolutely did the right thing by taking out of service until it could be restored to full, safe working order.
 
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I suppose that the shape of the Botafumeiro could be described as feminine. Slightly wide at the hips, though, if that can be said these days. Latin had a neuter gender, so why don't the two Romance languages I know anything about have it.? (I've googled it.) But plenty of inanimate objects were masculine or feminine in Latin.
 
Re: gender and inanimate objects. I enjoy travel writing so this may be a style thing. Ships, planes and other moving objects are feminine. If it was called a censer or thurible, would it still be masculine? The Botofumerio is sparkly, has delicate and intricate decorative details, contains red hot embers that flame up occasionally, smells lovely and flies gracefully. I’ll take Writers’ Privilege and write about It as a She. Other writers can personify as they wish!
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Re: gender and inanimate objects. I enjoy travel writing so this may be a style thing. Ships, planes and other moving objects are feminine. If it was called a censer or thurible, would it still be masculine? The Botofumerio is sparkly, has delicate and intricate decorative details, contains red hot embers that flame up occasionally, smells lovely and flies gracefully. I’ll take Writers’ Privilege and write about It as a She. Other writers can personify as they wish!


The correct spelling is botafumeiro.

 
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Good to see that it's back in place after such a long absence!

Cathedral and office staff refer to it in the masculine and often abreviate it to 'el bota'.. As it's a shortened version of a masculine noun, it's still masculine!
 
Gigipete wrote: We have visited today and have seen it but we're told it's not the full size version as this is still not working.
There are two thuribles:
There is another large thurible used in the other masses carried out in the cathedral, called La Alcachofa (literally, 'the Artichoke')[6] or La Repollo (literally, 'the Cabbage').[7] La Alcachofa is a silver-colored metal censer. It was created in 1971 by the sacred art artisans working under the craftsman Luis Molina Acedo.
On the Cathedral's website:
Throughout history there have been several thuribles; today there are two; one made from brass dating from 1851 by José Losada, which substituted the one stolen during the French occupation and which is the one that is used normally. The second Botafumeiro is a replica in silver of the previous one and was given to the Apostle by the Provisional Second-Lieutenants in 1971. It is only placed in the cathedral’s transept when it is in use, and it is kept in the Chapter Library.
The two thuribles may be different in size.
 
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In the last week towards the end of the Francés, I repeatedly heard a rumour circulating that The Thing will definitely fly at the midday mass every Friday in addition to the special days. Turns out a rumour is exactly what it was!
 
In the last week towards the end of the Francés, I repeatedly heard a rumour circulating that The Thing will definitely fly at the midday mass every Friday in addition to the special days. Turns out a rumour is exactly what it was!
Writer’s Privilege with Inanimate Objects!
 
A recent message on Facebook from Father Manny. The Botafumeiro was used today at the pilgrim mass in the cathedral.

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I was so thrilled to see it today at the end of the noon pilgrim mass. I have walked 4 Caminos and had not seen it until today, so my expectations were low. I felt quite blessed to witness it. It also was used yesterday at the evening mass but I didn't make that.
 
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We were blessed to be at the 7:30 pm Mass on Monday June 24th and it flew splendidly. We also did the cathedral tour on Tuesday and our guide said that it has been used every day at one Mass for the last ten days since it’s been fixed. Pretty sure it flew on the 25th at noon because we could smell it during our tour.
 
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