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What is a Milagro?
February 26, 2016
— 3 Comments
The custom of using milagros, or ex-votos, to remind one of a vow or a wish is common in may parts of the world. The custom was popular in Spain and came to Latin America with the colonizers. I have been collecting and using them for years. I like to find unusual ones to add to my collection. I put them in my change purse to protect my money. I don’t attach any saint or religion to them, but do like to see them every time I sort through my change to pay for something. They remind me of the intention I had when I placed them there. Some naturally get lost, but I have a some for so many years it is surprising.
friends enjoying Tubac
I recently found some great new ones in Tubac that I had not seen before. I was traveling with friends, so I purchased matching milagros for us as a souvenir of our trip to Santa Cruz County. I had just gifted a couple of charms to some guys from Wisconsin who were about to go on bicycles to Mexico. We met them leaving Tumacacori Mission ready to ride across the border. They were not afraid and felt fine about having no plans or accommodations arranged. They were some real adventurers. I was certain they needed some protection, so I gave them each a milagro. I am sure that milagros have been left at the mission for centuries, so it seemed right.
Tumacacori Mission
Tumacacori Mission
The Tucson Botanical Gardens has a craft project in the hispanic garden section now for visitors to design and leave their own meaningful charm in the trees. These handmade milagros are really fun to see as they decorate the garden. They signify whatever the maker has in mind at the time, and are very charming (pun intended). Do you have any personal milagros, gentle reader?
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
What is a Milagro?
June 10, 2013
— 2 Comments
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- milagro tree
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- garden wishes
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- decorative milagros
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- wooden charm
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- in Hebrew
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- reminder
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- hanging milagros
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- prayer hearts
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- De Grazia altar
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- memories
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- years of offerings
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- blessings
Milagro means miracle, and it also means a specific symbol used to make an offering. Offerings have meaning in the context in which they were made. Churches around the world have tokens left in hope, remembrance, or gratitude. In Ted DeGrazia’s Virgin of Guadalupe chapel people have left these symbols for many years. The oldest chapel I have seen like this has many offerings from sailors that include hats. It is in Cap D’Antibes, France. The chapel of Notre Dame de Garoupe is enchanting as well as historic. In Tucson we also have shrines known as El Tiradito and the Virgin shrine at San Javier del Bac Mission:
An offering can be made in nature, in a chapel, or in a garden. Altars exist in every form. The meaning is in the heart of the person making the offering. Milagros express hope, faith, and dedication. They tell the history of people’s aspirations, tragedies, and triumphs. The spirit of the place is reflected in the objects left on the altar. The altar assumes a collective consciousness by making space for all the offerings and their symbolic powers. It becomes an archive of religion.
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