Bonfim Wish Ribbons
The Bonfim church in Salvador, Brazil has become famous for their colorful wish ribbons. Thousands of ribbons are tied to the fence surrounding the church. It's an amazing sight and ritual!
Visitors to the church can tie a ribbon to their wrist and make three wishes (one for each knot tied to secure the ribbon). Legend has it that their wishes will be granted when the ribbon naturally disintergrates and falls off. It cannot be cut off or removed. My ribbon took over a year to fall off. It's quite the commitment.
Location Details
Brazil
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Congratulations on winning the 'Ritual' theme in the contest!
Thanks Joseph! Congrats to you too. Loved your Rendezvous photo.
Congratulations, Kristina!
Seeing your photo reminded me of a time some years ago in Geneva when I met a trio of men who were spending their summer traveling around Europe in a Tuna - a group of traveling male musicians who perform traditional spanish music while walking around restaurants and pubs in exchange for food and money. They wore outfits that dated back to the 17th century and which included long black capes. Their female friends and family had decorated long colorful ribbons with various wishes and the ribbons were then sewn onto one shoulder of each musicians cape so they'd flow behind them as they walked through the restaurants performing.
Kristina, your pictures are beautiful. To Gail Koza's comment about how the colored streamers appear in other cultures, this picture reminded me of the colored papers in the Peace Park on Okinawa, in Japan.
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