Pilgrimage

A pilgrimage is a journey undertaken for religious reasons. It often ends at a location important to a person’s religious traditions. A person who makes such a journey is called a pilgrim.

Many Christians, Jews, and Muslims undertake different kinds of pilgrimages. For instance, many Muslims undertake the Hajj. This is a pilgrimage to Mecca, where they go through a series of steps and practices, such as circling the Kaaba.

Christians usually make pilgrimages to places connected with Jesus, apostles or saints, or miracles. For instance, some Christians go on pilgrimage to Lourdes (a city in France). There is a small cave in Lourdes where a young girl saw Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the 1800s. Pilgrims go to Lourdes to pray at the site of the visions and be healed by the waters.

Historically, Jews were required to travel to the Temple in Jerusalem for three major festivals. After the Temple was destroyed, they no longer had to travel to Jerusalem. Instead, they celebrated these festivals in their local synagogues.

Today, some Jews still make what some consider a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, especially the Western Wall. Many Hasidim make pilgrimages to visit the leaders of their communities, living and dead.

This photograph shows pilgrims in Jerusalem.