US Christian Holy Figure Votive Candle: "Santo Nino"

This candle is a votive offering with an image of the child Jesus known as Santo Niño de Atocha. He is dressed in a long gown with a cape that has a wide lace collar and frilled cuffs. He is usually shown seated in a little chair.

The legend began in the Spanish city of Atocha, where the women of the city appealed to Our Lady of Atocha, to help them feed their imprisoned husbands. An unknown child appeared wearing pilgrim’s clothing and carrying a basket of food and a gourd of water. After the child gave food and water to the prisoners, his basket and gourd miraculously remained full. Those who had asked the Virgin of Atocha for a miracle suspected the identity of the little boy as the child Jesus. The Santo Niño de Atocha is the patron saint of those unjustly imprisoned, protector of travelers, and rescuer of those in peril.

Votive offerings are often linked with a vow or wish of the giver. The candle may be a thanksgiving offering made for a blessing bestowed on the giver. It can also be an offering meant to guarantee a deity's help for some future undertaking. In the Catholic Church, votive offerings are usually in the form of candle lighting.

Christianity has always associated light with God and therefore candles have become an important part of many rituals. Individuals light the candles for a variety of reasons including well wishes, deaths, blessings, and prayers.

The Christian faith is based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus or Christ. Jesus, (7–2 BC/BCE – 30–36 AD/CE), is the central figure of Christianity. Most Christian denominations venerate him as God the Son.

The principal sources of information regarding Jesus are the four canonical gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The gospels declare that Jesus was a Jew born in Bethlehem, in the Roman province of Judea. At the age of 30, he began to preach throughout Palestine, which was then under Roman rule. The gospels describe miracles that Jesus performed such as raising the dead.

Most critical historians agree that Jesus was a Jew who was regarded as a teacher and healer. He was crucified in Jerusalem, on the orders of the Roman Prefect of Judaea, on the charge of sedition against the Roman Empire. Christians believe that Jesus then rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, from which he will return.

Source:
Source cited: “Saint: El Santo Niño de Atocha/The Saint Child of Atocha”. New Mexico History Museum. 30 June 2013. Document URL: http://nmhistorymuseum.org/tesoros/tesoros-lightbox/more-text-sats-esna.html http://www.ninoatocha.com/history.html "Jesus Christ." Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2010. 297. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 July 2013. Document URL: http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.lapl.org/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX1796500200&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus BOLLE, K. W., and R. J. FLYNN. "Votive Offerings." New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Vol. 14. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 589-590. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 May 2013. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX3407711643&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w "Candles." New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 15. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 May 2013. "Light, Liturgical Use of." New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Vol. 8. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 580-582. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 May 2013. Document URL: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX3407706726&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w