Today I want to take a look at one of the most fascinating souvenirs from the medieval world: the pilgrim badge.
As a traveller in a medieval Europe you would have most likely spotted people wearing small metal badges that were pinned to their hats, cloaks, or bags. They were not for decorations. They showed people that the person wearing it had completed a pilgrimage.
Pilgrimages were important in the medieval era. People travelled to famous shrines to pray, give their thanks, seek forgiveness or ask for healing. Some journeys lasted a few days but others could take weeks or even months. Some popular places for pilgrimage were Canterbury in England, where pilgrims went to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket, and also Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and also Rome.
When pilgrims reached their destination, they sometimes bought a small badge that was made from a lead and tin alloy. The badges were fairly cheap, that meant that even poorer pilgrims could usually afford one. Each shrine had its own distinctive design. A Canterbury badge might have featured Thomas Becket or symbols connected to his martyrdom, a badge from Santiago often displayed the famous scallop shell, which became one of the best-known symbols of pilgrimage.
Many people wore their badges on their clothing during the journey home. It was a visible show of their faith and devotion. Some people actually believed that the badges had protective or healing powers because they had been blessed or had touched a holy shrine.
Pilgrim badges also allowed travellers to share their stories of the places they had visited, the people they had met, and the challenges they had to overcome. Long pilgrimage was not easy. The roads could often be really rough, the weather could be bad, and travellers had to face dangers like illness, thieves, or accidents. Wearing a badge showed their determination as well as faith.
Thousands of these tiny badges have managed to survive because many of them were accidentally dropped into rivers, streets, or fields. Archaeologists still discover them today.
I think it is amazing that something so small could tell such a big story.
If you had lived in the Middle Ages, do you think you would have made a pilgrimage, and which holy destination would you have chosen?
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