Pilgrim facts for kids
A pilgrim is someone who travels to a special, holy place, often for religious reasons. This journey, called a pilgrimage, is usually a physical trip, sometimes even on foot. For some, especially in Christianity, the idea of a pilgrim can also mean a spiritual journey through life itself.
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History of Pilgrimages
Pilgrimages have been a part of many religions for thousands of years. People in ancient Egypt, Persia, India, China, and Japan all took part in these special journeys.
Ancient Journeys
In ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, people would visit oracles, which were places where they believed gods gave advice. Famous oracles were at Dodona and Delphi in Greece. These trips could be personal or even paid for by the government.
In early Hebrew history, people traveled to places like Shiloh and Jerusalem. They celebrated special events called the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. Other religions that follow the teachings of Abraham also have similar practices.
Early Christian Pilgrims
Not all pilgrims traveled to a specific place. Some early Christians in Celtic Christianity were called Peregrinari Pro Christ, which means "Pilgrims for Christ." They were also known as "white martyrs." These people left their homes to wander, trusting completely in God's plan. This was a very strict religious practice. Their travels often led to new abbeys (monasteries) being built and helped spread Christianity in Britain and Europe.
Pilgrimages in Modern Times
Many religions still see pilgrimage as an important spiritual activity today.
Major Religious Pilgrimages
- Islam: The Hajj is a very important Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Every Muslim who is able to must try to make this journey at least once. Other popular Islamic pilgrimages are to the tombs of Shia Imams or Sufi saints.
- Christianity: Modern Christian pilgrims often visit Rome, where St. Paul wrote a letter to Christians. They also go to places in the "Holy Land" where Christ lived, such as Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Other popular sites include Lourdes, Santiago of Compostela, Canterbury, and Fatima, which are known for saints, visions, or miracles.
- Buddhism: Buddhist pilgrims visit places connected to the life of the Buddha. These include his birthplace (Lumbini in Nepal) and where he became enlightened (Bodh Gaya in India). They also visit temples with relics of the Buddha, like the Temple of the Tooth in Sri Lanka.
- Hinduism: Hindu pilgrims travel to holy cities like Varanasi, sacred rivers like the Ganges, and mountains in the Himalayas. Caves, temples, and festivals like the Kumbh Mela (which was the biggest public gathering in history in 2001) are also popular destinations.
- Zoroastrianism: Zoroastrians mainly make pilgrimages to Yazd and the temples of Pir-e Sabz and Pir-e Naraki in Iran. They also visit cities in India like Navsari and Udvada.
Other Types of Pilgrims
In the late 1800s, Christian ministers called "pilgrims" traveled to visit local Bible study groups. These visits were very popular. Later, the group became known as Jehovah's Witnesses, and their "pilgrims" were renamed traveling overseers.
A newer idea is the "cultural pilgrimage." This is a personal journey that is not religious. People might visit historic places that are important to a country or culture. For example, a fan of the Beatles might visit Liverpool in England. Other cultural pilgrimage sites include the Auschwitz concentration camp, the Gettysburg Battlefield, or the Ernest Hemingway House.
Some people even walk famous religious routes, like the Way of St. James, but they do it to learn about history or architecture, not just for religious reasons. In the past, under communist governments, people sometimes visited places like the Mausoleum of Lenin or the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. These places still attract visitors today. The difference between a religious pilgrimage and regular tourism can sometimes be hard to tell.
Pilgrims in Stories
Pilgrims have appeared in many famous books and poems:
- In the epic poem Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri writes about himself as a pilgrim traveling through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise.
- John Bunyan's Christian story, The Pilgrim's Progress (1678), features many pilgrims, both good and false.
- Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a "palmer" (a medieval Christian pilgrim to Jerusalem), is the main character in Sir Walter Scott's book Ivanhoe.
- A palmer also plays an important role in Book II of Edmund Spenser's long poem The Faerie Queene.
