Are you planning to visit Santiago de Compostela during these dates? Keep reading and you will know everything you can find in Galicia on this famous day!
July 25th: St. James the Apostle’s Day
The 25th of July is celebrated the Apostle Santiago’s day in Galicia. It is a very special date for the city of Santiago de Compostela and the whole Community, and we did not want to miss the opportunity to celebrate this special day with you, our pilgrims. In addition to all the activities and celebrations that you can find during these days, we have decided to launch a very special promo so that this fall you can enjoy the Camino with us.
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DETAILS OF THE SANTIAGO APOSTLE WEEK PROMO 2023
All bookings confirmed between July 20th and July 27th will include a free 30′ pilgrim/person massage. This massage can be enjoyed after ending The Camino, in Santiago de Compostela.
The requirements to benefit from this promotion are:
- To get your complimentary pilgrim massage in Santiago, you just have to confirm your booking from the 20th to the 27th of July 2023.
To do so your booking, you must proceed to the payment of the 20% deposit (or the total amount, if the trip starts in less than 1 month). - Choose a route that ends in Santiago de Compostela.
Please note that this promotion applies only to travel packages that meet these requirements:
-Bookings confirmed between July 20 and July 27, 2023 (both inclusive), based on Spanish mainland time. Does not apply to bookings confirmed before or after these dates.
-The booking is considered confirmed only when the deposit payment has been paid (20%, or 100% in the case of trips starting in less than one month).
-Applies to trips of at least 5 nights. Trips of less than 5 nights are not eligible for this promotion.
-Applies only to bookings passing through Santiago de Compostela, where the massage center is located (Plaza de la Quintana).
Please note that this promotion does not apply to returning customers, partners (such as travel agencies) and to customers that have received another discount.
-The company reserves the right to offer an alternative gift in case the pilgrim massage is not available on the travel dates.
The day of the Apostle
The festivities of Saint James the Apostle are celebrated in the city of Santiago de Compostela from July 21 until the end of the month. During this time, you can find both religious events and cultural activities for all audiences. Galician tradition and music invade Santiago de Compostela, filling the streets with life and a very festive atmosphere.
When is Santiago Apostle celebrated and what happens on these dates?
July 25th is the most important date, as it is the day of St. James the Apostle (a public holiday in Galicia). In addition, on the night of July 24, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is illuminated with a fireworks display in honor of the Apostle. If you want to see them, the Plaza del Obradoiro is the best place, because you will be able to contemplate the lights and the sound resounding in the Cathedral. However, it is usually quite crowded, and there are other very interesting spots in the city where you can watch this unique night: La Alameda, Eugenio Granell Park, As Cancelas or Carlomagno Park are the perfect places not to miss this spectacle.
What activities can you find during the month of July?
Traditional costumes
And how about learning about traditional games?
On July 28 and 29, there will be a “Torneo de Chave“, a popular Galician game in which participants must throw discs to hit a metal piece.
In addition to traditional games, there will also be meetings of giants and big heads “Cabezudos”, iconic figures of the party representing stereotypical characters. This tradition has its origin in the Middle Ages, but it is still very much alive. You will be able to see these incredible giants on the 24 th at 12:00 noon at Praza da Quintana and Praza do Toural at 12:30 noon.
Who was Santiago (Saint James for the English speakers)
According to the Bible, James was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and older brother of the apostle John. His Latin name, Iacobus, comes from the Hebrew Ya’akov. In Spanish, Santiago is a deformation of the Latin ‘Sanctus Iacobus’. He is also known as Santiago the Greater, to distinguish him from the other Apostle James, the Lesser.
The Apostle’s Day in Spain
According to legends, St. James preached in the Iberian Peninsula and after his death, his body arrived on the Galician coast by ship. From there, he was taken inland to be buried in Santiago de Compostela.
Santiago has been the patron saint of Spain since the 17th century. Since 1630, the Apostle’s Day has been celebrated every July 25. Although this is not the oldest celebration: since 1122, the year in which the last stone of the Romanesque Cathedral was laid, every time St. James’ Day fell on a Sunday, it was a Holy Year in Santiago de Compostela. All pilgrims arriving in Compostela in a Holy Year can receive pardons and blessings from the Church. The next Holy Year will be in 2021 and a large influx of pilgrims is expected in the city.
And a curious fact: many Spanish, Galician and Portuguese names come from the name of the Apostle: Jacobo, Jacob, Jaime, Iago, Yago, Diego, Diogo, Tiago and of course, Santiago.
The National Day of Galicia
In 1919, the Galician nationalists decided that they would celebrate Galicia Day on July 25, starting the following year. The date was chosen in honor of St. James the Apostle, patron saint of Galicia and its capital, Compostela.
The celebrations were halted during the Franco regime, as displays of any nationalism other than Spanish were forbidden. Galicians abroad gathered to celebrate this day and some of those who remained offered a symbolic mass for the famous Galician poet Rosalía de Castro. Nevertheless, there were religious celebrations, since Santiago was the patron saint of Spain and Franco’s regime promoted Spanish nationalism.
If you want to visit Santiago or walk the Way of St. James, do not hesitate to contact us! At Galiwonders, we will take care of all the organization so you can forget about the problems and focus on enjoying your trip.
Santiago Apostle’s Day 2023 programme
You can check the full programme here.
APOSTLE 2023 PROGRAMME
THURSDAY 20th
11.30 h
BOLBORETAS
SOLEDAD FELLOZA
PARQUE DO COTAREDO
Red Cultural de la Diputación de A Coruña
20 h
CONCIERTO
BANDA MUNICIPAL DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
PRAZA DAS PRATERÍAS
Tarde de baile
Voz: Antonio Barros
Dirige: Casiano Mouriño
22 h
PREGÓN
desde el balcón del Pazo de Raxoi a cargo de LEILÍA
PRAZA DO OBRADOIRO
22.15 h
CONCIERTO
THE ORIGINAL WAILERS
PRAZA DO OBRADOIRO
FRIDAY 21th
10 h – 12 h
ALBORADA a cargo de OS VALENTES DE CONXO
20 h
DANZA NO CAMIÑO
SOMOS (CATALUÑA)
Coreografía e interpretación: Clara Cervantes y Sandra Egido
LUCERO (MADRID)
Coreografía e interpretación: Alejandro Moya
(ÍOR) (CATALUÑA)
Coreografía: Marc Fernández
Interpretación: Marc Fernández y Julio León
OLLOS CARA A ADENTRO (GALICIA)
Coreografía e Interpretación:
Elena Castellanos y Xián Martínez
PRAZA DE SAN MARTIÑO PINARIO
22 h
CONCIERTO
SARAH MCCOY
PRAZA DA QUINTANA
22 h
CONCIERTO
ORQUESTRA STÉREO
ALAMEDA
SATURDAY 22th
10 h – 12 h
ALBORADA a cargo de ASOCIACIÓN CULTURAL PANA RAIADA
11 h
CONCIERTO
XACOBEO CLARINET FEST
PRAZA DA QUINTANA
10 h – 00.55 h
DRON GAELIC GP MUNDIAL
PARQUE DE BELVÍS
21 h
MUSICAL PETER, VOAMOS!
Aspas
AUDITORIO DE GALICIA
Gratuíto. Recogida de entradas en la Zona C, de martes a sábado de 11 a 14 h y de 16 a 19 h
21 h
JORNADAS DE FOLCLORE GALEGO
Actuación de los grupos de baile tradicional
AGRUPACIÓN FOLCLÓRICA CANTIGAS E AGARIMOS
AGRUPACIÓN FOLCLÓRICA COLEXIATA DE SAR
GRUPO DE BAILE E MÚSICA TRADICIONAIS BRINCADEIRA
OBRADOIRO DE CULTURA TRADICIONAL ULTREIA
PRAZA DA QUINTANA
21 h
CONCIERTO
L.A.
PARQUE DE GALERAS
22 h
ORQUESTA
FOLIADA D ASES
ALAMEDA
SUNDAY 23th
10 h – 12 h
ALBORADA a cargo de ASOCIACIÓN CULTURAL O CASTRO DE FIGUEIRAS
12 h – 13 h
EXHIBICIÓN DE DANZA URBANA
ALUMNAS DE LA ESCUELA AVD173
PRAZA DA QUINTANA
12.15 h – 12.45 h
TALLER DE INICIACIÓN A DANZAS URBANAS
HIPHOP, DANCEHALL Y HOUSE DANCE
PRAZA DA QUINTANA
21 h
CONCIERTO
LUCÍA ALDAO
PARQUE DE GALERAS
22 h
CONCIERTO
ÁNGEL STÁNICH
PRAZA DA QUINTANA
MONDAY 24th
10 h – 12 h
ALBORADA a cargo de ASOCIACIÓN CULTURAL XIRANDAINA
ENCUENTRO DE GIGANTES Y CABEZUDOS
12 h PRAZA DA QUINTANA
12.30 h PRAZA DO TOURAL
21 h
CONCIERTO
ANXO ARAÚJO
PARQUE DE GALERAS
22 h
CONCIERTO
XABIER DÍAZ E ADUFEIRAS DE SALITRE
PRAZA DA QUINTANA
22 h
ORQUESTA
HORIZON THE SHOW
ALAMEDA
23.30 h.
ESPECTÁCULO PIROTÉCNICO
ALAMEDA
PARQUE EUGENIO GRANELL
CIDADE DA CULTURA
PARQUE CARLOMAGNO
AS CANCELAS
TUESDAY 25th
12.30 h
COMPARSA DE CABEZUDOS
TEATRO PRINCIPAL
Recorrido: rúa Nova, praza das Praterías, Fonseca, rúa do Franco, praza do Toural, rúa Nova, Caldeirería, Praza de Abastos, praza de Cervantes, Santo Agostiño, rúa Travesa, Casas Reais, Preguntoiro, Fonte Sequelo y rúa Nova
21 h
CONCIERTO
SESO DURÁN
PARQUE DE GALERAS
22 h
CONCIERTO
CIMAFUNK
PRAZA DA QUINTANA
WEDNESDAY 26th
10 h – 12 h
ALBORADA a cargo de ENXEBRES DE SAN LÁZARO
19 h
CIRCO HOME
COMPAÑÍA CRISTINA SOLÉ
PARQUE DE BONAVAL
20 h
CONCIERTO
AMALTEA
Peregrinos musicais
PRAZA DE MAZARELOS
21 h
CONCIERTO
CATUXA SALOM
PARQUE DE GALERAS
22 h
CONCIERTO
TITO RAMÍREZ
PRAZA DA QUINTANA
THURSDAY 27th
10 h – 12 h
ALBORADA a cargo de ASOCIACIÓN DE VECIÑOS AS BRAÑAS DE ANDRÉS
11.30 h
UN SACO DE CONTOS
MARÍA DE LOS ÁNGELES GOÁS AMADO
PARQUE DO COTAREDO
Red Cultural de la Deputación de A Coruña
12 h
BRINCA VAI! DE AQUÍ E ACOLÁ
PACO NOGUEIRAS
PARQUE DA PONTEPEDRIÑA
Red Cultural de la Deputación de A Coruña
20 h
CONCIERTO
JORGE SUÁREZ, CHELO
GaNador del XIII Concurso Peregrinos musicais
PRAZA DE MAZARELOS
20.30 h
XLV TORNEO DE LLAVE FESTAS DO APÓSTOLO
ALAMEDA. AL LADO DE LA ESCUELA INFANTIL
DE SANTA SUSANA
21 h
CONCIERTO
BANDA MUNICIPAL DE MÚSICA DE SANTIAGO
DE COMPOSTELA Y LA EUROPEJSKA ORKIESTRA
Dirige: David Fiuza
PRAZA DA QUINTANA
21 h
CONCIERTO
THE RAPANTS
PARQUE DE GALERAS
22.30 h
ENDATERRA
ASOCIACIÓN CULTURAL XACARANDAINA
Recogida de invitaciones los días 25, 26 27 y 28 en la Zona C (Praza de Cervantes) en horario de 11 a 14 h y de 16 a 19 PABELLÓN DE FONTIÑAS
FRIDAY 28th
10 h – 12 h
ALBORADA a cargo de ASOCIACIÓN CULTURAL XIRANDAINA
19 h
CIRCO LA TROUPE MALABÓ
PARQUE DE BONAVAL
XLV TORNEO DE LLAVE FESTAS DO APÓSTOLO
19.30 h TORNEO FEMENINO
20.30 h TORNEO MASCULINO
ALAMEDA. AL LADO DE LA ESCUELA INFANTIL DE SANTA SUSANA
20 h
CONCIERTO
ENSEMBLE 4 ESTACIONES DE VIVALDI
Peregrinos musicais
PRAZA DE MAZARELOS
21 h
CONCIERTO
SILA LÚA
PARQUE DE GALERAS
21 h
REAL FILHARMONÍA DE GALICIA
Dirección: Baldur Brönnimann
Tenor: Santiago Ballerini
PRAZA DA QUINTANA
22 h
ORQUESTA CINEMA
ALAMEDA
22.30 h
ENDATERRA ASOCIACIÓN CULTURAL XACARANDAINA
Recogida de invitaciones los días 25, 26 27 e 28 en la Zona C (Praza de Cervantes) en horario de 11 a 14 h y de 16 a 19 PABELLÓN DAS FONTIÑAS
SATURDAY 29th
10 h – 12 h
ALBORADA a cargo de ASOCIACIÓN CULTURAL
PENA MAIOR DE MARROZOS
11 a 21 h
II FERIA DEL VESTIR “DE ONTE A HOXE”
11.30 a 19.30h
DIA DEL TRAJE GALLEGO
17 h
XLV TORNEO DE LLAVE FESTAS DO APÓSTOLO
FINAL FEMENINA FINAL MASCULINA
ALAMEDA. AL LADO DE LA ESCUELA INFANTIL DE STA. SUSANA
19 h
CIRCO SUMA GLAMPING
PARQUE DE BONAVAL
20 h
CONCIERTO
ENSEMBLE CSG
Peregrinos musicais
PRAZA DE MAZARELOS
21 h
CONCIERTO
APART
PARQUE DE GALERAS
22.30 h
DANZA BAILADOR
PRAZA DA QUINTANA
22 h
ORQUESTA ATENAS
ALAMEDA
SUNDAY 30th
11.30 h – 20.45 h
TRADFEST
PARQUE DE BONAVAL
20 h
CONCIERTO
MISHA ZEMTSOVE E ILONA TIMCHENKO
Peregrinos musicais
PRAZA DE MAZARELOS
20 h
DANZA ITINERANTE JULIA LAPORT & DIANA MONTSERRAT
PRAZA DE CERVANTES
RÚA DO PREGUNTOIRO
RÚA DAS ORFAS
RÚA NOVA
PRAZA DO TOURAL
21.30 h
VERÓNICA CODESAL
PRAZA DA QUINTANA
22.45 h
XURXO FERNÁNDES
PRAZA DA QUINTANA
MONDAY 31th
10 h – 12 h
ALBORADA a cargo da ASOCIACIÓN CULTURAL DEVAGARIÑO
13 h
DÍA DE PADRÓN EN SANTIAGO
BANDAS MUNICIPALES DE MÚSICA DE PADRÓN Y DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
PRAZA DO OBRADOIRO
20.30 h
CONCIERTO
BRATZANTIFA PONGO
PRAZA DA QUINTANA
22.30 h
CONCIERTO
PROXECTO LORCA
PRAZA DE MAZARELOS
ÁS 23.30 h
ESPECTÁCULO PIROTÉCNICO FIN DE FIESTA
CIUDAD DE LA CULTURA
