Another device the cathedral of Santiago is famous for is the
Botafumeiro. Special occasions like the All Saints holiday a couple of weeks ago are celebrated by swinging a metal container loaded with burning incense all the way through the cathedral on a very long rope.
There is a team of 4 monks (or similar) who are trained to swing it carefully to reach a maximum height without touching the ceiling.
It looks amazing and creates a smell and light fog which enhances the already supernaturally looking interior of the house. I saw many visitors praying, some of them probably praying that the rope will hold the weight... :-)
The majority of the visitors left after the swinging part. I stayed through the whole service, though. It included some touching songs by an elder nun and we all had to stand up from the bench several times which was sort of strange but certainly has some deeper catholic sense besides keeping people from taking a nap ;-)
There is a team of 4 monks (or similar) who are trained to swing it carefully to reach a maximum height without touching the ceiling.
It looks amazing and creates a smell and light fog which enhances the already supernaturally looking interior of the house. I saw many visitors praying, some of them probably praying that the rope will hold the weight... :-) 
The majority of the visitors left after the swinging part. I stayed through the whole service, though. It included some touching songs by an elder nun and we all had to stand up from the bench several times which was sort of strange but certainly has some deeper catholic sense besides keeping people from taking a nap ;-) 
