FEAST OF ST JAMES THE APOSTLE IN SPAIN - 25TH JULY

 

Many people in Spain celebrate the life and deeds of James, son of Zebedee, on Saint James' Day (Santiago Apostol), which is on July 25. Saint James was one of Jesus' first disciples. Some Christians believe that his remains are buried in Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Many events are organized on and before Saint James' Day in the Basque Country and Galicia. These include: •Special church services to honor the life and work of Saint James.

•Exhibitions of art work by artists born or living in or near Santiago de Compostela.

•Theatre productions and street shows.

•Concerts of modern and traditional music, including bagpipe performances.

•Traditional dance events held outside.

Special services are held in the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela on July 25. Church officials swing a large incense burner at full speed during this service. They fill the whole church with incense smoke.

 

St James, son of Zebedee, was an apostles and a brother of John the Apostle, according to Christian belief. He lived at the same time as Jesus. He may have traveled to the area that is now Santiago de Compostela.

St James was beheaded in Judea in the year 44 CE. Some Christians believe that his disciples carried his body by sea to Padrón on the Galician coast. They then buried his body under what is now the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.

St James' relics were discovered sometime between 791 CE and 842 CE. Santiago de Compostela then became a place of pilgrimage. Pope Leo XIII asserted that the relics of St James at Compostela were authentic in a papal bull. This papal bull was published on November 1, 1884.

Common symbols of St James include a traveler's hat and a scallop shell. The scallop shell is used to mark a network of pilgrimage routes. These routes lead to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela from many European countries, including:

Thousands of people walk, cycle or ride a horse along the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela each year. Many people hope to arrive just before Saint James' Day.

ROYAL BABY PRINCE NAMED GEORGE

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have named their son - George Alexander Louis.

 

 

 

 

The first child of Prince William and Catherine, who is third in line to the throne, will be known as Prince George of Cambridge.

George was the bookmakers' favourite for the first name of the prince.

There have been six King Georges up to now, most recently the Queen's father, although his first name was Albert and he was known to his family as Bertie.

The name Louis is Prince William's fourth name and is likely to be a tribute to Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Duke of Edinburgh's uncle and the last British Viceroy of India before independence in 1947.

 

Alexander is said to be a favourite of Catherine's.

As well as being an established regal name, George is also a saint's name. St George was an early Christian martyr and is the patron saint of England.



DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE GIVES BIRTH TO BOY

The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a boy. The child was born at 4.24pm on Monday afternoon and weighed 8lb 6oz. The duchess arrived at the Lindo wing of St Mary's hospital, Paddington, in the early stages of labour at about 5.45am accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge. He is on two weeks' paternity leave from his job as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot

 

 

KATE MIDDLETON IN HOSPITAL TO HAVE ROYAL BABY

 

Kate Middleton has been admitted to the hospital to give birth, according to a Kensington Palace

spokesman.

"Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted this morning to St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London in the early stages of labour. The Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge," the palace said in a statement today.

Middleton was admitted shortly before 6 a.m. today with The Duke by her side, and she is progressing normally, the palace said. There is no suggestion that she was induced.

Regardless of the baby's gender, Prince William and Kate Middleton's firstborn will be third in line to the British throne, after grandfather Prince Charles and father Prince William.

Kate and William have chosen to be surprised and do not know the sex of the baby, according to royal sources.

SWAN UPPING ON THE RIVER THAMES

Swan Upping 2013 will take place from 15 - 19 July

The census of people takes place every ten years. The census of swans takes place annually during July on the River Thames in a ceremony known as Swan Upping. Swans are counted and marked on a 70 mile, five day journey up the River Thames.

The Swan Upping event takes place in July each year, commencing on the third Monday at Sunbury and ending at Abingdon on the Friday.

The swans on the River Thames are Mute Swans (Cygnus olor). They are not actually mute, they can honk and hiss alot. Mute swans are seen in Britain all year round and are distinguished by a bright orange beak, which has a knob of black tissue on the top.

Swan Uppers searching for cygnets

The Swan Uppers catch and check the health of the swans and their cygnets through five counties, from Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, to Abingdon, Oxfordshire.