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EveryParampara

Scallop shell

The shell worn by pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago.

A pattern drawn for this page, not a picture of Scallop shell.

Also: pilgrim shell, concha

The scallop shell is the emblem of the Camino de Santiago, the pilgrimage to the shrine of St James in northwestern Spain. Pilgrims tie one to their pack as a sign of their journey, and the ridges of the shell, converging at a point, are said to stand for the many routes leading to the same destination. In the Middle Ages, shells were collected on the Galician coast and carried home as proof of the journey. Waymarks along the route, painted on stones, walls and posts, show the shell too. It also appears on churches, hostels and tombs, and now on the backpacks of walkers from every country.

Region: Europe

See also

CredencialFirst fruits

Find traditions that mention Scallop shell

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