July 25: St. James’ Day

Engraving by A. Collaert.

After his martyrdom, stories say that James’ disciples brought his remains back to Galicia (on the Northwest coast of Spain). A storm hit their ship, and James’ body was lost; when it was recovered, it was covered in scallop shells.

According to tradition, James’ remains were finally buried at the site of what became the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Santiago is Spanish for “St. James”). When this became a popular pilgrimage site, pilgrims would bring back with them a scallop shell as proof of their journey.

Shells eventually became the symbol of pilgrimage, referring to both the pilgrimages taken to particular holy sites, as well as the spiritual journey of humanity: “All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth” (Hebrews 11:13 NABRE)

In England, the oyster harvest would begin around St. James’ Day.  Kids gathered discarded shells – symbolic of St. James – and built grottos with the shells, tucking flowers, glass, ribbons, moss, etc. among them.  They would place a lit candle inside, asking for donations to tend the light.