The magic of my Silent Night pilgrimage, by HORATIO CLARE

Just before dawn a moon like a burning orange balloon appears, its reflection gilding our pilgrim path across the sands to Holy Island, Northumbria. I cry out in delight and start describing this luminous beauty into my microphone — we have been tasked with finding hope and wonder in the depths of the darkest year, … Read more

The Great German Bake Off: Forget Black Forest gateau – we’re in Bad Urach for a pretzel pilgrimage

I’ve always loved pretzels. For my hen do, I dragged 10 friends to Cologne for a weekend of wheat beer and salt-crusted doughy deliciousness. So it’s hardly surprising that, hours after arriving in Baden-Württemberg, a mountainous region of southern Germany with the Black Forest at its heart, I’m polishing off my fourth one – a … Read more

Muslim pilgrims observe social distancing rules on the final day of the hajj pilgrimage

Muslim pilgrims circled Islam’s holiest site along socially distanced paths Sunday in the final ritual of the hajj, the smallest in modern history as Saudi authorities sought to prevent a coronavirus outbreak. Only up to 10,000 Muslims took part in the hajj, a far cry from the 2.5 million who took part in the five-day … Read more

Social distancing observed as the hajj pilgrimage gets underway in Mecca amid coronavirus crisis 

Strict social distancing measures were in place during the third day of the hajj pilgrimage in Mecca amid the coronavirus pandemic. A limited number of Muslim pilgrims of Saudi Arabia residents gathered at the Great Mosque in Mecca to pray during one of the Islamic rituals of pilgrimage, the Tawaf Al-Ifadah. The symbolic ritual of ‘Stoning … Read more