Milagros are small amulets used as votive offerings in Spain, Latin America and parts of Europe. They represent prayers and can be made from various materials. The tradition dates back over two thousand years and is associated with Catholic prayer. Milagros are sold by vendors outside churches.
Milagros are small amulets that are used as votive offerings in Latin America, Spain and some other parts of Europe. The use of milagros in Spain dates back to at least five centuries before the birth of Christ, and the tradition continues today, especially in isolated communities. Many visitors to Spain and Latin America like to collect milagros as mementos of their travels, and these little amulets are sold by many vendors, classically right outside a church.
The idea behind a milagro is that it is a physical representation of a prayer. For example, if someone is experiencing pain in their leg, a leg-shaped milagro would be attached to the saint’s robe or altar during prayer, to remind the saint of the content of the prayer. In addition to being used in a prayer to request something, a milagro can also be used in a prayer of thanks. A peasant who wanted to give thanks for the birth of a healthy foal could, for example, attach a horse-shaped milagro to the saint.
Milagros can be made from a wide variety of materials. Silver and gold are common, but they can also be made from clay, tin, wax, wood, and other materials. Milagros are typically very small and can be relatively crude representations of the physical elements they represent, or they can be quite detailed. Many artisans will create custom milagros for customers who need them, and worshipers can also purchase generic milagros outside the church.
The practice of making votive offerings is ancient and has taken many forms. One of the things that makes milagros so extraordinary is the fact that the tradition has endured for over two thousand years, through several changes of religion and through radical changes in culture. The Spanish brought milagros with them to the Americas when they explored the New World, passing the tradition on to the natives there, accidentally preserving the Native American practice of votive offerings in the process.
These popular amulets are most classically associated with Catholic prayer in Spain and Latin America. In most regions, it is not recommended to remove milagros from a church, because you may interfere with someone else’s prayers. Priests may periodically remove and arrange the milagros covering their saints to allow people to place new milagros, but the charms are generally handled with care and respect and are not available for sale. If you want to buy milagros as a souvenir or for your prayers, the best source is a church vendor, who can usually guarantee clean provenance.
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