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Products >>Mexican
Milagros |
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Spanish word milagro means miracle or surprise. Traditionally milagros is used to describe small silver or gold coloured offerings in the
shape of arms, legs,
other body parts or animals. They
are attached to the statues of saints or the walls of churches as a request for help in
connection with that body part or as thanks for
help already received. Milagros can
be flat or sculptured, small or
large and made of virtually anything the petitioner
thinks is appropriate. The use of milagros in Mediterranean
cultures goes back for thousands of years—it is
a pre-Christian ritual. When the practice was brought
to the
Americas
by the Spanish it
was easily adopted by the Native Americans who had
similar traditions involving small amulets. Milagros
are magical messages that are common to most cultures.
They can be used in religious or secular situations.
They are miniature objects in silver, tin, or gold.
First, a person will ask for a favour from a saint.
Once the favour has been granted a milagro is pinned on or near a religious figure in thanks
for the granting of a favour. They are often strung
up on red ribbons. People also carry milagros for
protection and good luck. Often,
a retablo or some other sacred
image in a home will have milagros nailed to the
frame, in such a way that the saint represented
in the picture might bless the persons represented
by the milagros, or the cares of these persons.
Different milagros have different meanings and uses,
and are often interpreted differently by different
people, or for different occasions. Here is a list
of some typical milagros that are commonly used.
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| HEART |
represent
the human heart, connected with cares of worries
over a heart condition, might represent the
love that one person feels for another, a
romance, represent the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
or the Sacred Heart of Mary |
| EYES |
about
eye conditions, represent the concept of watching, |
| PRAYING
WOMAN |
represent
a woman, such as ones mother or wife, represent
any female saint, such as the Virgin Mary,
any other woman who is perceived as being
faithful and fervent |
| THE
PRAYING MAN |
represent
a man, such as ones father or husband, any
other man who is perceived as being faithful
and fervent, any male saint |
| WOMAN’S
HEAD |
represent
a woman, a woman’s mind, a woman’s spirit,
a condition such a headache |
| MAN’S
HEAD |
represent
a man, a man’s head, a man’s mind, a man’s
spirit, a condition such a headache |
| GIRL |
represent
one’s female child, or a niece, a grandchild,
represent the childlike qualities in anyone, a symbol of thanksgiving for the birth
of a baby |
| BOY |
represent
one’s male child, or a nephew, a grandchild,
represent the childlike qualities in anyone, a symbol of thanksgiving for the birth
of a baby |
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