The myth

The story tells that St. James the greater, apostle of Jesus, sailed to Galicia to minister to the pagan population of the area.  It appears his ministry was not very successful and he returned to Jerusalem where he was beheaded by Herod in 42 CE.  His body was brought back to the the Iberian peninsula and eventually laid to rest near the present day Santiago.  Pilgrims have made the journey to Santiago for over 1000 years.  In importance it followed pilgrimages to Jerusalem and Rome.  It reached its peak in the Middle ages when much of the infrastructure that supports the pilgrims was established: the hostels were organized by religious orders, some bridges were constructed and businesses set up.  Later the number of pilgrims tapered off but never really died out.  Pilgrims usually began their journey from where they lived - no planes to get them to St Jean Pied de Port.  Often the pilgrimage was done as a penance but today pilgrims have their own reasons for setting off on this journey.  They may be religious, physical, spiritual or emotional - everyone makes their own pilgrimage.  My reasons?  More of that later.