Church of Colored Ribbons

Our cabbie, JCDS, took us to Salvador’s most beloved church: Basilica Santuario Senhor do Bonfim,

The church is surrounded by a wrought iron fence that is completely covered in brightly covered cloth. These fluttering ribbons are called “fitas.”

According to a tradition dating back to at least the early 1800s, these ribbons have the power to grant three wishes. You can wear the ribbon on your wrist, ankle, or tie it to the gate.

In order to get the three wishes, you must tie three knots. After that, you must wait for the ribbon to fall off of its own accord. Only then, will your wishes be granted.

As for the ribbons tied to the church gates; three or four times a year, they are burned in a special Catholic ceremony. Not only does this grant the wishes, but it makes way for more ribbons!

A replica of Senhor Bonfim inside the church is believed to bestow special curative powers upon the faithful. Those seeking divine intervention leave wax replicas of ailing body parts and/or photograph as of themselves inside the “salsa do milagre” (room of miracles.)

There’s also a fountain made of Carrara marble featuring a figure of Jesus pointing to Heaven with his right hand. His left arm is draped around a cross, while that hand holds a broken chain. To top it all off, Jesus is stands on a serpent.

I love all the symbolism, of course, but I’ll save the details for a Patreon post rather than ramble on here!

According to a nearby plaque, the sculptor’s name has been lost to history.Read more