| Milagros imports ceramic
hand made Mexican wall tiles, hand blown glass, hand woven
bags, oil cloth flower and fruit bags, wood carvings, ceramic
pots, plastic basketry, niches, silver, amber, talavera, dichroic
jewellery, mirrors and much more. |
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| The shop: 61 Columbia Road,
London. E2 7RG.
Map & Directions |
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Tel / Fax 020 7613 0876
Opening hours: Office Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm,
Shop Sunday 9am to 3 pm. |
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Mexican
Milagros |
The
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.
| HEART
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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
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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
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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
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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 |
| ARM
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represent
an arm itself, some condition associated with
it, such as an injury, represent ones strength,
ones ability to work, represent an embrace,
and physical demonstrations of affection that
involve embracing |
| LEG
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represent
ones leg itself, some condition associated
with it, such as an injury, represent ones
strength, and the concept of travel, a journey |
| HOUSE
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One’s
own home, and the blessings that might be
had on it, and on the family that dwells there,
represent the hope of having one’s home, When
travelling, it can be a charm to insure that
one will arrive safely home again, or it can
establish a connection between the traveller
and the loved ones at home. |
| HEN
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Represent
ones own hen, with one seeking blessings so
that she might always lay good eggs, the concept
of mothering |
| BULL
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symbolize
strength, husbanding, protection, stamina,
endurance |
| HORSE
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symbolize
the qualities of a man in being a workhorse,
travel |
| SHEEP
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symbolize
any of the Bible verses about sheep, symbolize
the concept of togetherness, might also be
used a charm to try and erase the effects
of behaviour that is typically described in
a negative way |
| DOG
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symbolize
loyalty, symbolize protection |
| PIG
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symbolize
nourishment, might also be used a charm to
try and erase the effects of behaviour that
is typically described in a negative way as
being like that of a pig, such as perceived
lack of control in ones eating habits, or
lack of manners and self control. |
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