Botafumeiro - All Saints Mass

[U20C_Katherine]

May someone please explain how does getting into the mass on the all saints day (with botafumeiro) work? One of the pilgrims told me yesterday that I would have to make a reservation at the pilgrims office at the cost of $300 to attend. True?

 

[C clearly]

The cathedral chooses to swing the botafumeiro on certain days. They also swing it when special arrangements and a payment have been made, at which time that group might get reserved seating. Everyone else who is in the cathedral still gets to see the event (for free).

Someone else will come on the forum before long to provide more information, including how to get into mass on any day, and special days in particular.

 

[dick bird]

May someone please explain how does getting into the mass on the all saints day (with botafumeiro) work? One of the pilgrims told me yesterday that I would have to make a reservation at the pilgrims office at the cost of $300 to attend. True?

If you pay them 300 euros, they will certainly swing the botufumeiro for you, but the chances are, somebody always has. You have two choices (assuming coughing up 300 euros is not one of them), a) take a chance and hope that when you go to mass, it is one of those days (worked for us, six times and they swung it every time) or b) find out from the cathedral office which days they swing the botufumeiro on, and go then.

 

[Vacajoe]

As a Holy Day, it should swing at all masses on All Saints Day (as well as All Souls Day!) unless there is a technical issue. To see it, you simply need to attend Mass at the cathedral which is always free. As of now (October 2021), services are scheduled four times a day at the main altar: 0730, 0930, 1200, and 1930.

The cathedral office will not tell you if it is scheduled to swing.

 

[Former member 98985]

I'm also holding out for a seat at the All Saints Day mass on Monday which is at 1140. The butafumeira will be swung according to the cathedral calendar but every church & tourism official in SdC assures me there is no way of buying tickets for this public mass, have to queue (in what looks like being rainy weather) and hope for the best!

 

[U20C_Katherine]

Thank you everyone for kindly answering my question… it’s much appreciated

 

[dick bird]

What is The Botafumeiro And When Can I See it?

What is The Botafumeiro And When Can I See it? CaminoWays.com

caminoways.com

This has the information you want about scheduled swinging of the botifumeiro. Obviously, it is difficult to tell in advance which days it will be commissioned to be swung by individuals or groups. All I can say is that every time I have been to mass at Santiago cathedral, it has been swung.

 

[Esperanza]

Remember that swinging the butifumeiro is part of a religious service and to my knowledge, the Catholic Church does not ever charge admission for a religious service, nor does any other church that I have ever heard of. There may be fees for private use of a church, for example, for a funeral or a wedding, or swinging the butifumeiro for a private group, but not an admission fee for attendees. That whole idea seems really off to me.

 

[Vacajoe]

FYI: it was used last night at 7:30pm mass and this morning at 9:30 mass, but not at the noon mass. It was used again at this evenings 7:30pm mass. In short, it really is a big unknown.

 

[Canche]

And you have to stand in line at least an hour and a half before mass. I was just in Santiago anda that's it.

As a Holy Day, it should swing at all masses on All Saints Day (as well as All Souls Day!) unless there is a technical issue. To see it, you simply need to attend Mass at the cathedral which is always free. As of now (October 2021), services are scheduled four times a day at the main altar: 0730, 0930, 1200, and 1930.

The cathedral office will not tell you if it is scheduled to swing.

 

[Vacajoe]

And you have to stand in line at least an hour and a half before mass.

Actually, this week (end of October 2021) has seen plenty of room at nearly every mass for attendees to walk in and grab a seat a few minutes before mass starts. Last night the pews in the side areas with the best view of the botafumeiro were actually only 80% full.

Certainly there are times when it’s much more crowded, but during winter in a pandemic, not so much.

 

[U20C_Katherine]

Went to the all Saints mass at noon and it swung. It was an incredible experience I’ll never forget. It may be worth to plan entering Santiago around church holidays for this very reason.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Went to the all Saints mass at noon and it swung. It was an incredible experience I’ll never forget. It may be worth to plan entering Santiago around church holidays for this very reason.

I relate to your exhilaration at witnessing this unique ceremony, and remember standing at the same spot as the little girl in red by the statue.
Just curious. What are the orange "adornments" at the foot of the wooden cross?

 

[Peregrinopaul]

I'm assuming something to do with votives for All Souls during the month of November.

 

[U20C_Katherine]

I relate to your exhilaration at witnessing this unique ceremony, and remember standing at the same spot as the little girl in red by the statue.
Just curious. What are the orange "adornments" at the foot of the wooden cross?
View attachment 112824

These were life jackets… I am not sure if the meaning… I figured it was a permanent “exhibit”