Saint Sarah Kali candle
Relief in affliction, protected pregnancy, and the protection of the patroness of the Romani people
Saint Sarah Kali candle
7-day candle · stays lit for 7 days7 dias
The Saint Sarah Kali candle is for those who have reached their limit and need comfort. Sara is the patroness of the Romani people, venerated in a crypt by the Mediterranean in the south of France, and in Brazil, devotion has grown among Romani families, popular Catholics, and many Umbanda houses. The two-color candle, light blue on top and gold on the bottom, joins the sea that brought the saint and the brightness of the people who adopted her.
Sara was not canonized by the Church, but her veneration was never forbidden, and every May 24th the dark statue leaves the crypt and is taken to the sea. The date became the National Romani Day in Brazil. In Umbanda, she is welcomed as a symbolic protector of the Oriente Line, without being a spirit guide: no one embodies Saint Sarah. The Romani women and men who descend in the gira are something else, and deserve their own candle.
At home, this candle asks for little: a clean place, a glass of water, and a beautiful cloth nearby, reminding the mantles that devotees leave over the statue. It is not a candle for reading luck or for bound love. It is a candle of surrender, for the woman waiting for a child, for the family on the road, and for those who no longer know who to ask.
What is it for
What is the Saint Sarah Kali Candle for
The candle of Saint Sarah Kali brings the light blue of the Camargue sea over the gold of Romani devotion. It is lit to ask for help in affliction, protection during pregnancy, support for those who live far from home, and a blessing for the family.
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Protection of pregnancy and childbirth
Sara is remembered by women who wish to become pregnant and by those who are already expecting. Light it in the final months, asking that the mother and the baby be well cared for until the end.
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Help when nothing else seems to work
It is the candle of despair spoken in a low voice. When strength and paths are lacking, surrender the situation to Sara and ask for calm to see the next step.
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Support for those who live on the road
Patroness of a people who knew the path, she protects those who travel, move cities, or live far from family. Light it thinking of those who are away from home.
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Blessing and unity of the family
For homes going through a phase of fighting, distance, or loss. The candle of Sara asks that the family returns to sit together, each in their place, without resentment.
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Honoring the Romani people on May 24
On the day of Saint Sarah, many homes light the candle with flowers and colorful ribbons to celebrate National Romani Day and thank for the protection of the entire year.
To whom it is dedicated
The devotion to Saint Sara Kali
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Saint Sarah Kali
Sara a Negra, patron saint of the Romani people
Kali means black in Romani, and the name comes from the dark wood statue kept in the crypt. Linked to the legend of the Marias who arrived by boat to Camargue, Sara is the mother of a people without a fixed homeland, and the candle carries the blue of the sea and the gold of the festival.
Also lit by
- Eastern Line
- Romani people of Umbanda
- Calon and Rom families
- Pilgrims of the Camargue
Prayer to light
Prayer of the candle of Saint Sarah Kali for the hour of affliction
“Saint Sara, woman who crossed the sea without oars and arrived whole on the other shore, look at me now. I am also in a boat that I do not know how to steer. I light this blue and gold light and leave with you the weight that no longer fits in my hands. Cover with your mantle the child who is yet to be born, the family that spread across the world and each person in this house who is tired of fighting. I do not ask you to remove the storm from the path, I ask that you teach me to row with faith until the beach. May this flame stay lit like those of the candles in your crypt, without haste and without fear. Hail Saint Sara Kali!”Light the candle and pray
Step by step
How to consecrate the Candle of Saint Sarah Kali
- 1
Cover the place with a beautiful cloth
Spread a colorful or patterned scarf on a table or shelf. It is a reminder of the mantles that devotees leave over the statue of Sara as a thank you.
- 2
Place the water and the flowers
The glass of water stays to the side, reminding of the sea through which the saint arrived. The white roses or lavender decorate the corner and make the environment calmer for prayer.
- 3
Hold the candle and count your affliction
Before lighting, stay for a minute with the candle in your hands and say, in your own words, what is weighing on you. You do not need a beautiful phrase, Sara listens to simple speech.
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Light and say the prayer
Light it with a match, offer the candle to Saint Sarah Kali and pray the prayer of this page or the one that comes from the heart. If you wish, complete with an Our Father or a Hail Mary.
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Let the flame finish on its own
Do not blow. If you have to leave, smother it with a lid and light it again upon returning. At the end, the water goes to the soil of a pot, and the wax wrapped in paper goes to the trash.
Precautions before lighting
- 7-day candle stays lit for a long time: keep away from curtains, tablecloths, and out of reach of children and animals, always on top of sturdy dishes or glass.
- Saint Sara is not a spirit of the gira. If you attend a terreiro and want to work with the Romani spirits of the Eastern Line (Linha do Oriente), the one who guides you is the leader of your house.
- During pregnancy and in any prayer request for health, the candle accompanies the prenatal care and treatment, it never replaces it. Always follow the guidance of your doctor.
- Respect the Romani people (cigano): devotion to Sara is not fantasy or luck reading. It was born from the faith of real families, who still face prejudice.
Ceromancy
What the flame of the Saint Sarah Kali candle shows
Traditional terreiro reading. Before interpreting, check if there is no wind, crooked wick, or poor quality candle.
- Good sign
High and serene flame until the end
Many devotees read this as a request accepted. The candle burned calmly, without conflict with the environment, and the message is to keep trusting while things are being sorted out.
- Observe
Flame that dances and crackles
It could be a long wick or moisture in the wax. Some see the agitation of the one who made the request. Check the wick, take a deep breath, and continue the prayer with more calm.
- Attention
Wax that drips in tears
Some houses read this as hidden sadness in the one who lit it. It is worth crying what needs to be cried, talking to someone of trust, and repeating the candle on another day.
- Attention
Dark smoke and cloudy glass
It is usually read as a weight in the environment. Change the water, clean the house and, if the sign returns every time, seek guidance in a terreiro or with someone from your faith.
- Observe
Candle that goes out before its time
Check the wind, wick, and quality of the candle before any reading. Then light it again, without fear, and redo the request with tranquility.
Ritual bath and smoke cleansing (defumação)
Herbs that combine with the Saint Sarah Kali candle
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White Rose
Rosa alba
White roses next to the candle are the most common decoration for Sara. The petals also become a ritual bath of peace for the pregnant woman before praying.
See the herb -
Lavender (alfazema)
Lavandula angustifolia
Lavender calms the house and sleep. A sprig next to the glass of water or a small bag under the pillow helps the one who lights the candle during a phase of distress.
See the herb -
Jasmine
Jasminum spp.
A very beloved scented flower in homes that worship the Romani people. Use the flower or jasmine incense to brighten the corner of devotion on May 24.
See the herb
Virtual Candle
Light the Saint Sarah Kali candle now
Choose the type, write your request, and pay by PIX. The flame stays on the altar and you follow along through the link.
Place on the altarFrequently asked questions
Questions about the Saint Sarah Kali candle
What is the Saint Sara Kali candle for?
It serves to ask for help in affliction, protection during pregnancy and childbirth, support for those who are far from home, and family unity. It is a candle of surrender and consolation, lit by Catholic devotees, by Romani families, and by many people in Umbanda.
What is the day of Saint Sarah Kali and when to light the candle?
Her day is May 24, when the statue is taken to the sea in France and Brazil celebrates the National Romani Day. During the week, there is no fixed traditional day: light it when the need arises, preferably at dusk.
Is Saint Sara Kali a Romani spirit of Umbanda?
No. Sarah is a popular Catholic devotion, patroness of the Romani people, and she is not canonized. Umbanda welcomes her as a symbolic protector of the Linha do Oriente, but no one incorporates Saint Sarah. The Romani women and men of the gira are spirits with their own names and work.
Can I blow out the Saint Sara candle and light it again?
You can, if necessary, but without blowing. Smother the flame with a lid or a saucer and light it again when you return home. The best way is to let the candle finish on its own, following the time of the prayer request.
What to do with the water and the remains of the Saint Sarah candle?
The water from the cup goes to the soil of a pot or the backyard, and the cup is washed. The remaining wax can be wrapped in paper and put in the common trash. If you used flowers, they can go to the soil when they wither.
Can I light the candle of Saint Sarah Kali at home without being Romani?
You can. Devotion to Sara is open to anyone of faith who asks with respect. What is asked is not to treat the Romani people as a fantasy and to remember that the saint is the mother of a real people, with a history of persecution and resistance.
