History of The Camino
The Camino de Santiago is named for Santo Iago, or Saint James – one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus. Some pilgrims believe that he was in fact Jesus' brother. According to legend, his body was found in a boat that washed ashore in Northern Spain thousands of years ago. His remains were transported inland and were buried under what is now the main cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which marks the end of the Camino. His bones were rediscovered in the 9th century, when a hermit saw a field of stars that led him to the ancient tomb. From that time on, millions of Christians from all over Europe have walked thousands of miles to visit the remains of the disciple.
At the height of its popularity in the 11th and 12th centuries, anywhere from 250,000 to one million people a year are said to have made the pilgrimage. According to Catholic tradition, if you faithfully completed the arduous trek, all your sins were forgiven for two years. If you made the pilgrimage during a Holy Year – the infrequent occasion when St. James Day, July 25th, falls on a Sunday – you were granted a plenary indulgence, which allowed you to bypass purgatory and enter straight into heaven. Not a bad deal if you’re willing to endure walking on blisters for weeks on end. It is even rumored that some wealthy aristocrats would hire people to walk in their name to, by proxy, absolve them of their sins without actually setting foot on the Camino.
There exist many myths regarding the creation of the Camino. One such belief, not frequently found in print, is that the Spanish government and the Catholic church invented the entire story to entice Christians to Spain, so that once there, they could be enlisted to fight against the Moors invading from the South. It is also claimed to be an ancient Celtic route, as well as astrologically and energetically aligned to promise personal transformation and spiritual growth – whether one is seeking it or not.
Historically, there have existed many countries that provided criminals with the choice to either do prison time, or do the Camino. Even today, Belgium will sometimes allow minor crimes to be pardoned by completing the pilgrimage. While, in these cases, the Camino was used as a form of punishment, its impact upon a pilgrim’s connection with themselves and their world community could instead be regarded as an unconventional form of rehabilitation.
UNESCO has declared it a “Universal Patrimony of Humanity” and a “World Heritage Site”. In 1987, the European Union declared the Camino de Santiago to be Europe's first “Cultural Itinerary.” Although originally known as a Christian pilgrimage, the Camino now attracts people of all faiths and backgrounds – from atheists to Buddhists, adventurers to mourners, and college students to retired friends. 
To get the most out of the Camino, many recommend starting out alone, knowing that you will attract just the right traveling companions for whatever you need to learn. Many seasoned pilgrims swear that whatever you are searching for or are missing in life, you will most certainly find on the Camino.
