The bread on some doors in the early morning - is it a donation for the pilgrims?

[SophiaZornitsa]

Dear Pilgrims,

some of you who start their walking as early as 6-7am may have noticed that on some doors there are plastic bags with small bread. Do you think this is for the pilgrims from the villagers and home owners? Or its some bread delivery for the owners and belongs to them only. I have heard both opinions. Also many bottle of water I encounter on the hot days and steep roads with no other water supply. It this for the pilgrims or no?

Thanks for your comments and opinions.

I attach recent pictures from the last week.

Buen Camino!
Sophia

 

[trecile]

NO! It's not for pilgrims. Many homes have bread delivered to them daily.

It's not a matter of opinion and please tell those who think that the bread is for pilgrims that it is NOT.

 

[Bradypus]

That bread is for the householder. Many Spanish people have bread delivered to their home each day in rural areas. You will often see the bakers' delivery vans and hear them sounding their horns too.

And the water bottles are supposed to deter dogs from peeing in the area. No idea if it works but it is a common practice!

 

[Pelegrin]

I am visiting right now my home village in Galicia and the baker has already come from Teixeiro ( 20 kms far from here).

 

[Pafayac]

I have been living in London for years. During all these years, I never bought a bottle of milk: every morning I found a bottle on the pavement: there were put there for any walker who could need them...

 

[henrythedog]

And the water bottles are supposed to deter dogs from peeing in the area. No idea if it works but it is a common practice!

The bottles (which may have a little detergent in the water) are intended to be poured on the area where a dog has urinated. As the owner of a dog who must have a bladder the size of a beach-ball I know that every previous dog’s urine has to be investigated and reciprocated.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I am always appalled at this kind of self-centered presumption. If it does not belong to you, don't touch it!

 

[dick bird]

Perhaps you might knock on the door of the house where you see a tempting loaf of bread suspended in a plastic bag and ask them, whether indeed, the bread is intended for you. I hope you can run fast, very fast.

 

[Kathor1]

Hi @SophiaZornitsa and welcome to the forum! The stories that Camino pilgrims tell each other ... as you have probably read by now, the bread in the plastic bag hanging at the front door in Spanish villages, the milk bottles standing on the steps in front of houses in English towns, the newspaper lying in the front garden in American suburbia ... different countries, different customs. Is there something similar in your country - judging by your profile information you are from the capital of Bulgaria?

 

[Trailhawk]

And the water bottles are supposed to deter dogs from peeing in the area. No idea if it works but it is a common practice!

I had been wracking my brains trying to figure out the purpose of these bottles with water in them. My first impression was that it was for pets to drink from. But it doesn't fit since I did not see a bowl. A water with detergent works well if it is poured over urine to cover its odor so no "property issues" would entertain other dogs. Thank you.

 

[SophiaZornitsa]

Thank you, people, for all the answers.
I've heard both opinions, that's why I asked.

The bread delivery is obvious, especially if it's in a branded paper bag often stamped with the logo of the bakery. The questions was about the small breads in plastic bags and I see there's only one opinion it the forum, so it's clear now. No need for sarcasm. Thank you.

For the bottle of water it's surprising to learn the reason. I didn't see anyone drinking from them anyway, just being curious.

One more question: do you know what are these things used for? Haven't had a chance to ask anyone. Pictures attached.

Thanks again.
S.

 

[SabsP]

Thank you, people, for all the answers.
I've heard both opinions, that's why I asked.

The bread delivery is obvious, especially if it's in a branded paper bag often stamped with the logo of the bakery. The questions was about the small breads in plastic bags and I see there's only one opinion it the forum, so it's clear now. No need for sarcasm. Thank you.

For the bottle of water it's surprising to learn the reason. I didn't see anyone drinking from them anyway, just being curious.

One more question: do you know what are these things used for? Haven't had a chance to ask anyone. Pictures attached.

Thanks again.
S.

Called an horreo.

Hórreo - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Bradypus]

One more question: do you know what are these things used for? Haven't had a chance to ask anyone.

On my first visit to Galicia I wondered about that too. Why have crosses on them? For a short time I wondered if Galician families liked to bury their relatives at the bottom of the garden.

 

[trecile]

I am always appalled at this kind of self-centered presumption. If it does not belong to you, don't touch it!

To be fair, @SophiaZornitsa asked here first. It's those who gave her the wrong answer that could be considered self centered, but I'd prefer to call them clueless or culturally ignorant.

I've heard both opinions, that's why I asked

Again, it's not subject to opinion, but rather fact.

One more question: do you know what are these things used for?

As @SabsP said they are called horreos, and are used for storing grain. I met a young woman a few years ago on the Camino and when she was studying abroad in Spain and living with a host family while in university one of the sons in the household convinced her that it was a kind of crypt where Galicians kept their deceased relatives. She told me that she was quite embarrassed when she learned their true purpose.

 

[Harland2019]

They were to put crops in so that mice/rats can't get in. They are on mushroom-shaped stones pillars so that they can't get in.

 

[Pelegrin]

One more question: do you know what are these things used for? Haven't had a chance to ask anyone. Pictures attached.

Thanks again.
S.

Horreo was a granary, now the owners put different things inside .They are "protected buildings" in Galicia . On the roof they have a cross and many of them also a pagan symbol of fertility (like those in your photos).

 

[SabsP]

For more info.

Los hórreos de Galicia - Albariño.com

Los hórreos son contrucciones que forman parte de la identidad de Galicia. Te invitamos a descubrir los secretos de los graneros adaptados al rural gallego.

www.xn--albario-9za.com

Hórreos: las arquitecturas que moldean Galicia

Loewe se enamoró de un hórreo. A la marca, en Galicia, le daría un Stendhalazo.

www.traveler.es

GRANEROS EN EL CAMINO. EL HÓRREO GALLEGO. - Madera y Construcción

Aproximación La riqueza patrimonial arquitectónica es el resultado de la suma de las diversas capas que a lo largo de la historia y dependiendo de condicionantes y factores propios de cada lugar o territorio donde se ha asentado la humanidad, y que han determinado una forma particular de habitar...

maderayconstruccion.com

Last link has an extensive list of more reading material if interested.

 

[Kathor1]

On my first visit to Galicia I wondered about that too. Why have crosses on them? For a short time I wondered if Galician families liked to bury their relatives at the bottom of the garden.

The crosses on the roof of these structures puzzled me, too. They looked like little churches or chapels on stilts to me. I had seen small barns on mushroom stilts for storing grain and other crops in the Swiss Alps, so the principle was not new to me but these crosses threw me off track at first.

 

[trecile]

but these crosses threw me off track at first.

They just make it easier to convince gullible foreigners that it's the family crypt.

 

[Bradypus]

They just make it easier to convince gullible foreigners that it's the family crypt.

I managed to convince myself with no help from anyone.

 

[SophiaZornitsa]

To be fair, @SophiaZornitsa asked here first. It's those who gave her the wrong answer that could be considered self centered, but I'd prefer to call them clueless or culturally ignorant.


Again, it's not subject to opinion, but rather fact.


As @SabsP said they are called horreos, and are used for storing grain. I met a young woman a few years ago on the Camino and when she was studying abroad in Spain and living with a host family while in university one of the sons in the household convinced her that it was a kind of crypt where Galicians kept their deceased relatives. She told me that she was quite embarrassed when she learned their true purpose.

thank you!
and thanks to all for the info on horreos.
so many things to learn and so little time on the way.
great talking to most of you.
you too have a great day!
Sophia

 

[SophiaZornitsa]

For more info.

Los hórreos de Galicia - Albariño.com

Los hórreos son contrucciones que forman parte de la identidad de Galicia. Te invitamos a descubrir los secretos de los graneros adaptados al rural gallego.

www.xn--albario-9za.com

Hórreos: las arquitecturas que moldean Galicia

Loewe se enamoró de un hórreo. A la marca, en Galicia, le daría un Stendhalazo.

www.traveler.es

GRANEROS EN EL CAMINO. EL HÓRREO GALLEGO. - Madera y Construcción

Aproximación La riqueza patrimonial arquitectónica es el resultado de la suma de las diversas capas que a lo largo de la historia y dependiendo de condicionantes y factores propios de cada lugar o territorio donde se ha asentado la humanidad, y que han determinado una forma particular de habitar...

maderayconstruccion.com

Last link has an extensive list of more reading material if interested.

Dear @SabsP, very interesting links, thank you. S.

 

[dick bird]

There are numerous threads on the forum , not to mention Wikipedia etc, about horréos, and since the original question has been more than adequately answered, it is time to close this thread. Thank you and good night.