Ultreia, the pilgrim's greeting
Ultreia. The greeting among pilgrims
If you are familiar with the Caminho de Santiago, you may have heard the expression “Ultreia!” as a greeting from a pilgrim, or perhaps you have heard or read it somewhere, without knowing what it means or its origins.
It is true that nowadays “Ultreia” as a greeting is rarely used, with more colloquial expressions being preferred, the most common one being “Buen Camino!” However, the greeting “Ultreia” is still associated with the history of the pilgrimage routes, despite being in decline.
The meaning of “Ultreia” can be translated as "Let's go there" or "Hurry up, keep going", always referring to the ultimate goal of every pilgrim, reaching Santiago de Compostela.
This word has Latin origins, composed of “Ultra” meaning more and “eia” meaning there.
The response to this greeting among pilgrims is “Et Suseia”, an expression that means "Let's go higher", although many experts attribute the meaning of "Hallelujah", with a more joyful perspective of reaching Santiago.
Origin of this greeting
This expression originates in the Códex Calixtinus, the first guide to the Camino de Santiago.
It is assumed that the expression began to be used as a greeting among pilgrims to encourage one another.
Currently, more and more people are drawn to the routes of the Camino de Santiago in order to enjoy an unforgettable experience. “Buen Camino!” is the most commonly used expression by the majority of people crossing paths in this wonderful journey, but we must not forget the origins; we should revive this greeting among pilgrims to keep the origins alive.
Ultreia!
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