Milagro

The word *milagro* literally means "miracle" in Spanish (in Portuguese: milagre). A milagro is a type of ex-voto, essentially a charm offered in exchange for a miracle, Milgaros symbolize the specific miracle requested. Most involve healing, and so the standard milagro is a little image in the form of a human body part: an eye, ear, leg, arm, or other part of the anatomy. Choose a milagro that symbolizes your needs. (Milagros are *not* actual body parts; they resemble charms on a charm bracelet and may be incorporated into jewlery. Some collect them just because they are pretty, evocative, and usually inexpensive, not for spiritual use.)

The terms *milagro* and *ex-voto* are sometimes used synonymously, but there are many types of ex-votos. Milagros are currently the most popular type of ex-voto; the Spanish name has entered the English language, perhaps because no specific English word exists that expresses this concept. (Words *do* exist in other languages; for example: the modern Greek word *tamata*.)

The standard modern milagro is made from some inexpensive silvery metal, but they may also be made from bread dough, wax, or precious gems and metals. More expensive milagros are *not* more effective. Expensive ones are usually intended as repayment for favours received rather than used for the initial request. Most are tiny representations, but life-sized versions are popular in Brazil.

*Milagro* is a modern name, but the concept is ancient. Similar offerings to spirits are among the oldest archaeological finds, dating back at least to the Bronze Age. Some of the most ancient have been found in Iberia (Portugal and Spain) and in what is now Switzerland. Tiny bronze artefacts, virtually identical to modern milagros, are on display in Spain's archaeological museums. They are also common artefacts found in ancient Celtic healing shrines. (The presence of these artefacts is often used to identify whether a shrine was associated with healing, and specifically what kind of healing: eye-shaped ex-votos found in Celtic shrines indicate the deity in residence was credited with healing vision and eye ailments.)

Milagros traditionally accompany petitions as part of an exchange. Presented to spirits in public shrines or on private home altars, they are pinned to a sacred image's clothing or to special poles or petition boards provided for the purpose. They can, however, simply be placed upon an altar. Depending on the specific spirit petitioned, they are also traditionally buried in Earth or tossed in bodies of water (spring, lake, river, ocean, well), in similar fashion to tossing coins into wishing wells.

Milagros are traditional components of repayment vows to spirits. Sometimes an inexpensive milagro is presented as part of the original petition, together with a vow to give the spirit a more expensive version, should the petition be fulfilled. Sometimes a miniature milagro is given to mark the request, with a true-to-life-sized version promised as repayment. Extravagant milagros tend to be associated with requests for true life-or-death miracles: a cure for terminal illness, for example. Examples of priceless milagros offered in gratitude and testimonial are on display at the shrine of Babalu Ayé (Saint Lazarus) in El Rincon, Cuba.

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes