Wish Ribbons: Threads of Tradition, Spirituality, and Personal Reflection
In 2022, I traveled to Salvador, Bahia, where I learned about fitas/fitinhas, or wish ribbons, that are small in size yet overflowing with meaning. These colorful fabric strips, emblazoned with “Lembrança do ________” (insert the name of a cathedral/church), serve as more than just souvenirs. They’re spiritual keepsakes, infused with the history, faith, and resilience of Bahia's history.
Tying a fitinha on your writst or on an object in a meaningful space (like a gate or a bridge) is a way of marking a wish or intention (or a prayer). The belief is that as the ribbon naturally wears away and breaks, the wish will be fulfilled.
Our world often moves sooo quickly, and the act of slowing down with intention tying a knot in a ribbon, and holding a wish is a simple way to reclaim out time. Each fitinha is more than just a ribbon; it’s a small piece of history, a personal ritual, and an invitation to carry a little of the resilience of Bahian history it represents, with us wherever we go.
History of the Wish Ribbons
The tradition of the fitinha dates back to the 1800s as a tribute to Our Lord of Bonfim, a figure honored at the Church of Bonfim in Salvador. "Bonfim" translates to "good end" (bom = good, fim= end. The topic of 'n's and 'm's in Protuguese should totally be covered by linguists, not by me so I won't be attempting to explain the 'n'). This is a reference to the crucified Jesus in the moment of his death, seen as an action of ultimate good in Catholic theology as it was a sacrifice out of love for humanity. Known initially as the “Medida do Bonfim,” or the “Measure of Bonfim,” the ribbons were 47 centimeters long, a length mirroring the right arm of the sculpture of Our Lord of Bonfim. The first ribbons were silk, with the saint’s name embroidered in gold or silver, and worn as necklaces with saintly medals or charms believed to carry blessings and protection.
In the 1950s, a more affordable version of these ribbons began circulating, and by the '60s, hippies in Bahia had popularized them as fashion statements. Today, the ribbons are sometimes associated with orixá veneration practices. Orixás are entities/energies of the Yoruba religion, brought with enslaved Africans and syncretized into Catholicism under the names of saints. Originally this syncretism was hidden as a necessity to avoid punishment by Portuguese Catholic enslavers/settlers/colonisers. This bridging between Catholicism and Afro-Brazilian spiritual traditions is called Candomblé. Thanks to the struggles of Black Brazilians, defending theri culture and fighting against religious persecution and discrimination, Candomblé finally began to be seen as a legitimate religious practice (though there is still violence and discrimination). Today it's even a source for non Brazilian Black folks to study their heritage since it has preserved so much oral history and spiritual wisdom over the centuries.
Each Orixa has a color associated with their energy, and the ribbon can have an added layer of meaning with this in mind:
Green is for Oxóssi, the orixa of abundance and the hunt.
Yellow represents Oshun, the energy of love and beauty.
Light blue is dedicated to Yemayá, the mother of the sea.
White signifies Oxalá, peacful and pure energy.
Bahia’s culture, with its blend of African, Indigenous, and European influences, continues to honor those who have come before. It felt fitting that the wish ribbons, linked both to Catholic and Afro-Brazilian spirituality, have become a powerful way for people to carry forward their wishes, even in the face of adversity.
Back home, I’ve shared fitinhas with friends and family, hoping they, too, find their own meanings in the ritual. Whether worn as a quiet reminder of intention or shared as a token of faith, each ribbon is a gift of hope and resilience—a piece of Bahia, carried forward as a reminder that our intentions, when held close, are powerful.
