
In Disney's Encanto, the Madrigals are a magical family, each with their own unique gifts. However, the family's protagonist, Mirabel, does not seem to possess any magical powers. This has led fans to create several theories, one of which suggests that Mirabel is the candle, and therefore the source of the family's magic. This theory is based on several observations, including the fact that Mirabel's emotions seem to be connected to the candle and the house, and that she is the only one who can save the candle when the house starts to crumble. Additionally, the candle has a butterfly on it, and Mirabel's clothes are embroidered with butterflies, suggesting a connection between the two.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Connection to the miracle candle | The candle reacts to Mirabel's emotions. |
| The candle's flame nearly went out when Mirabel felt separate from her family. | |
| When Mirabel reconciled with her sister, the candle burned brighter. | |
| When Mirabel and Abuela fought, the candle was in danger. | |
| Mirabel was the only one who could reach the candle as the Casita was crumbling | |
| Mirabel is the one who restored the magic. | |
| The candle holds the spirit of Pedro, Abuela's husband. | |
| Mirabel is the holder of all the magic. | |
| Mirabel's clothes are embroidered with butterflies, which are also on the candle. | |
| Mirabel is the only one who interacts with the house, and it always responds to her. | |
| Mirabel is the only one the Casita helps when it's falling apart. | |
| Mirabel is the only character shown directly speaking to the Casita. | |
| Mirabel is the next keeper of the miracle. | |
| Mirabel is the next family matriarch. | |
| Mirabel is the next candle holder. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn

Mirabel's emotional state and the candle
In Encanto, Mirabel is the only member of the Madrigal family without a magical gift. However, fans have theorized that Mirabel is the embodiment of the candle, and that her emotional state is directly connected to the candle and the magic in the film.
When Mirabel feels devastated and separate from her family, the cracks in the Casita begin to appear. When she is freaked out about the prophecy at dinner, cracks appear, and her family's powers start acting up. When she reconciles with her sister, Isabela, and they hug, the candle shines brighter than ever, and the cracks begin to disappear. When Mirabel and her Abuela are fighting, and her Abuela singles her out from the rest of the family, Mirabel's emotions pour out, and the Casita is destroyed.
The candle is a symbol of hope for the Madrigals and the town of Encanto. It is the source of the family's powers and the magic that created Casita and the town, as well as protecting it. Likewise, Mirabel is relentlessly hopeful despite the challenges. This is reflected in the song "Waiting on a Miracle", where she sings despairingly, "Am I too late for a miracle?". This is when the first cracks begin to appear on Casita.
The magic in the film is linked to Abuela's love, and the candle's waning magic is an indication that her love is now conditional. This is reflected in the timing of the candle's flicker during Mirabel's gift ceremony, where she is the only one who does not receive a magical gift. The candle goes out when Mirabel confronts her grandmother, accusing her of having lost her love for the family.
The film's director, Jared Bush, has confirmed that Mirabel's gift ceremony didn't actually go wrong, and that she was chosen as the new Abuela, the keeper of the miracle, and the family matriarch. This is further supported by the fact that Mirabel is the only one who interacts with the house, and it always responds to her. She is also the only one the Casita helps when it is falling apart. At the end of the film, when the Casita is rebuilt, the front door comes to life with a glowing image of Mirabel at the center of her family, implying that the whole house is her domain.
Habersham Candles: How Long Do They Last?
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Mirabel's connection to the magic
In the Disney film Encanto, Mirabel is the only member of the Madrigal family who does not receive a magical gift. However, fans have speculated that Mirabel is deeply connected to the magic of the candle that bestows gifts upon her family members. This theory is supported by several moments in the film.
Firstly, the candle appears to react to Mirabel's emotional state. When Mirabel feels devastated and separate from her family, cracks appear in the house. When she is afraid of the prophecy at dinner, cracks appear again, and her relatives' powers start malfunctioning. Conversely, when Mirabel bonds with her sister, the candle shines brighter than ever.
Secondly, Mirabel is the only one who interacts with the house, which always responds to her. She is the only one the house helps when it is falling apart, and it even saves her as it is dying. Additionally, when Mirabel reconciles with her sister, the candle glows brighter, coinciding with her sister's discovery of new facets of her power. This implies that Mirabel has a direct connection to the magic and may be able to unlock her family members' hidden potential.
Furthermore, the candle has a butterfly on it, and Mirabel's clothes are embroidered with butterflies. In the film, each character's clothing symbolises their gift. Thus, the butterflies on Mirabel's dress may suggest a connection to the candle. Finally, at the end of the film, the front door of the newly rebuilt house comes to life with a glowing image of Mirabel at the centre of her family, implying that the whole house is her domain.
Overall, while Mirabel does not possess a magical gift like the other Madrigals, she may be the embodiment of the candle and the power it holds.
Unveiling Charmed Aroma Candles: The Magical Waiting Time
You may want to see also
Explore related products

The candle's symbolism
The miracle candle is a symbol of hope for the Madrigals and the town of Encanto. It is the source of the family's powers and the magic that created Casita and the town while also protecting it. The candle is imbued with magic by Pedro, Abuela's husband, who passed away while defending the fleeing townsfolk. The candle is also a symbol of the miracle's second chances and healing.
The candle is deeply connected to Mirabel, who is the only family member without a magical gift. The candle's magic is said to be a reflection of Abuela's love, which becomes conditional as she fears losing the miracle. When Mirabel confronts Abuela, accusing her of no longer loving her family, the candle flickers and begins to fade. This is because Mirabel is the embodiment of the candle, and the magic comes from within her. This is evidenced by the fact that the candle reacts to her emotions, shining brightly when she bonds with her sister, and almost going out when she feels devastated and separate from her family.
Mirabel's clothing is embroidered with butterflies, which are also featured on the candle. In the film, the yellow butterfly is a symbol of Pedro's spirit and foreshadows the destruction of the family's home. This motif hints at the shift the family will undergo, which is brought about by Mirabel. She is the only one who sees that the Casita and family are breaking down, and she is the one who ultimately restores the magic and brings life back to the Casita.
In the end, the candle is gone, but Mirabel is able to unlock the magic again by leading the rebuilding of the Casita. This confirms the idea that she is the new keeper of the miracle and the family's matriarch.
A Whiff of Paradise: Island Candle Fragrance Notes
You may want to see also
Explore related products

The candle's disappearance
In Disney's Encanto, the magical candle is a source of wonder for the Madrigals and the town of Encanto. It is also a source of mystery and intrigue, with its disappearance forming a central part of the plot. The candle's disappearance is gradual, with its magic waning and the cracks in the Casita appearing and growing larger as the family's powers begin to fade.
Mirabel discovers that she is the reason for the magic's disappearance. She learns that on the night she didn't receive her gift, her grandmother, Alma, begged Uncle Bruno to look into the future. Bruno sees a vision of the candle being knocked down and going out as their home cracks and crumbles. To protect Mirabel, who is at the centre of his vision, Bruno keeps it a secret.
As the situation worsens, Mirabel risks her life to reach the candle as the Casita crumbles around them. By the time she grabs it, the wax has melted away, and the candle's flame dies in her hands. With the candle gone, Mirabel is able to unlock the magic once more by leading the rebuilding of the Casita, implying that she has become the new keeper of the miracle.
The disappearance of the candle serves as a catalyst for Mirabel's self-imposed mission to repair the cracks in her family and their home. It also symbolises the shift that the Madrigal family will undergo as they heal and move forward together.
Clean Your Candle Holder Like a Pro
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Mirabel as the candle
In the Disney film Encanto, Mirabel is the only member of the Madrigal family who does not receive a magical gift. This has led to a popular fan theory that Mirabel is the embodiment of the miracle candle that is the source of the family's magic.
The candle is a symbol of hope for the Madrigals and the town of Encanto. It is the source of the family's powers and the magic that created Casita, the magical house, and the town. The candle is imbued with magic by Pedro, Abuela's husband, who sacrificed his life to protect his family and community.
There are several clues in the film that support the theory that Mirabel is the candle. Firstly, when Mirabel is feeling emotionally devastated and separate from her family, cracks appear in Casita and the family's powers start to fade. When she reconciles with her sister, the candle shines brighter than ever, and her sister discovers new facets of her power. This implies that Mirabel has a direct connection to the magic and can unlock the hidden potential in others.
Secondly, Mirabel is the only one who interacts with Casita in the same way as Abuela, the head of the family. Casita responds to their commands and moves to accommodate their wishes. When Mirabel is trying to reach the candle as Casita is crumbling, the house saves her. At the end of the film, when Mirabel inserts a doorknob with her initial "M" into the front door of the newly rebuilt Casita, the house comes to life with a glowing image of Mirabel at the centre of her family.
Thirdly, the butterfly motif in the film may also be symbolic. In the novel that inspired Encanto, yellow butterflies appear and follow the patriarch wherever he goes, symbolizing his energy and spirit. In the film, the presence of yellow butterflies is said to be a representation of Pedro's spirit. Butterflies also appear on Mirabel's clothing, particularly prominently on the yarn shoulder of her dress, which could indicate a connection to the butterfly on the candle.
Finally, when Mirabel is born, Abuela states that Pedro "sent" her, implying that he noticed that Abuela needed a successor to steer her back onto the right path. This theory is supported by the fact that Mirabel is relentlessly hopeful, just like the candle is a symbol of hope for the family.
In conclusion, while Mirabel does not possess magical gifts like the other Madrigals, fan theories suggest that she is the embodiment of the candle and the holder of all the magic. She is the one who restores the magic and helps her family improve their gifts by encouraging them to be themselves.
Mixing Candle Colors: A Creative Guide
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The theory that Mirabel is the candle is based on the idea that she is the embodiment of the candle and has the power of the miracle within her. This is supported by the fact that she is the only family member without a magical gift and that her emotions seem to be tied to the candle and the cracks in Casita.
When Mirabel feels devastated and separate from her family, cracks appear in Casita. When she is freaked out about the prophecy, cracks appear and her family's powers start glitching. When she bonds with her sister, Isabela, and they hug, the candle shines brighter than ever. When she fights with her Abuela, the cracks in Casita worsen.
In the film, each character's clothing includes symbols that allude to their gifts. Butterflies are prominently featured on Mirabel's clothing, and there is a butterfly on the candle. In the cultural context of the film, the yellow butterfly is a symbol of metamorphosis and change, foreshadowing the shift that the Madrigal family will undergo.
At the end of the film, Mirabel is able to restore the magic by unlocking it within herself and releasing it into the newly rebuilt Casita. She does this by inserting a golden doorknob with her initial "M" into the front door, bringing Casita to life once more.
The candle flickering during Mirabel's gift ceremony indicates that Abuela's love for her family has become conditional, which is a central theme in the film. It also foreshadows the endangerment of the family miracle years later.











































