Pilgrim

A Pilgrim is someone who undertakes a religious pilgrimage. This is traditionally a visit to a place of some religious significance; often a considerable distance is traveled. Examples might include a Muslim visiting Mecca, or a Jew visiting Jerusalem.

In the Middle Ages, Christian pilgrimage was regarded as a testimonial to one's faith, since travel was dangerous and time-consuming. Popular destinations for pilgrimage included Canterbury in England, and the shrine[?] of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, as well as the city of Rome.

Over the centuries the terms 'pilgrim' and 'pilgrimage' have come to have a looser meaning, and are nowadays often applied to a special visit. For example, fans of Elvis Presley may choose to visit his home, Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Pilgrim Fathers (often Pilgrims) were a group of English religious dissidents who sailed for America in the hope of setting up a colony where they could enjoy religious freedom. In this context, the term 'pilgrim' means only that they travelled a long way in order to practise their religion.