Milagros Jewelry from the Cháchara Collection @ Bittersweet
Milagros, or tiny miracles, are small religious charms that have been used in Mexico and other areas of Latin America for hundreds of years to petition saints for guidance, help and protection. They are frequently placed on altars and places of worship. In addition to religious and ritual applications, milagros are often found as components in necklaces, earrings and other jewellery.
The use of milagros is a folk custom in parts of North, Central, and South America, and it is claimed that the custom is traceable to ancient Iberians who inhabited the coastal regions of Spain. The use of milagros accompanied the Spanish as they arrived in Central and South America. Although the custom is not as prevalent as it once was, the use of milagros or ex-votos continues to be a part of folk culture throughout rural areas of Spain—particularly Andalusia, Catalonia and Majorca.
As part of a religious ritual or an act of devotion, milagros can be offered to a symbol of a saint as a reminder of a petitioner’s particular need, or in gratitude for a prayer answered. They are used to assist in focusing attention towards a specific ailment, based on the type of charm used. Milagro symbolism is not universal; a milagro of a body part, such as a leg, might be used as part of a prayer or vow for the improvement of a leg; or it might refer to a concept such as travel. Similarly, a heart might represent ideas as diverse as a heart condition, a romance, or any number of other interpretations. Milagros are also carried for protection and good luck.
Please visit Bittersweet at the SAC Mercado to see our new Milagros Jewelry Collection!
