What is the story about the scallop shells?
The scallop shell is worn by pilgrims on the camino as an expression of their faith. Since the twelfth century, almost all images of Santiago or his followers include a scallop shell on hat or tunic. It is now widely used as part of the pilgrim tradition. There are conflicting views on the origin of the scallop as a symbol of St. James. One is that a drowning man at Finisterre was saved by St. James and was borne to shore, nearly covered in scallop shells. Another is that the scallop was a symbol of an older Venus fertility cult and was then co-opted by the church as a symbol of spiritual rebirth and resurrection.
