Dear Rick, I watched your show on Spain and running with the bulls, and the pilgrimage to Santiago de Castillo. I was very disappointed that you never once mentioned how pilgrims are in route to see the black Madonna. What is the secrecy around her? Why are Europeans less than fourth coming about their worship of a black woman ? Rick don't you think that speaking the the truth about this pilgrimage would have been healing to the hundreds/ thousands of black women who have been trampled by the American experience. What is done in the closet will be brought to the roof top, that is the promise of the ancients. Or are you all so ashamed of a black goddess who has served Europeans faithfully? Please reply
Posted by
San Diego, CA
638 posts
First of all, Rick is not going to respond to your post on this message board, it is designed for travelers to help other travelers with information on Europe. Now the second part, part of me is hoping this is not a someone trolling but I'll bite. Its not the Santiago de Castillo (to the best of my knowledge doesn't exist), it is the Camino de Santiago (The Way of Saint James), an ancient pilgrimage to the city of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain where it is believed the remains of the Apostle Saint James are buried. It is one the the 3 Christian pilgrimages, along with Jeruselem and Rome. This pilgrimage has been going on for thousands of years and each year thousands more make the pilgrimage, I did the 790 kilometers last summer from St Jean Pied du Port to Santiago in 33 days. What the Black Madonna in Europe has to do with black women being trampled by the "American experience" I have no idea what each has to do with each other or why you are equating the two.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10633 posts
Again, in case it's not a troll: Actually, there are several theories about the origins of the Black Madonnas. One of the theories is that these statues (and there are many in different areas of Europe) are the Christian form of former earth goddesses. Others claim they are darkened simply from the soot of candles placed next to them over the centuries because they are darker in color with European features. Many Black Madonnas can be found in the center of France, in an area called the Massive Central, a less penetrable area further from the Roman conquest roads. If there is a Black Madonna on this pilgrimage trail, perhaps RS didn't have enough background about Black Madonnas and their origins to comment on this one. They are a subject of serious study by scholars.