Saint James shell with Red Cross

Saint James shell with Red Cross

Now also available at Camino Comfort: the Saint James shell with Red Cross (La Cruz de Santiago).

We found a small local business in Santiago to provide us with this item and their story is one I would like to share with you, because we think it is important you know. The business owner could have decided to import these from e.g. China, but instead they chose to help the economy locally: two relatives of the owner are helped with each shell. One of them manufactures the holes in the shell, the other one makes sure each of them get a cord. For each piece they make, they get a little bit of financial support from the owner, enabling them to make a living in the currently difficult economy. If you buy one of these, you are helping them too!

The ancient pilgrims were said to receive this shell when they arrived in Santiago so they would have proof of their pilgrimage during and upon their return. However, it has been a while now that the shell is the symbol every pilgrim carries during their journey to Santiago, identifying them as pilgrims on the Camino to Santiago.

With this shell, you will have the most popular one used: the natural Saint James Shell with red cross, which is the Cross of Santiago.

To read more about this and other symbols, check out this page where we explain them all.