
In Disney's Encanto, fans have been discussing why the film's protagonist, Mirabel, is the only member of the Madrigal family without a magical gift. The most popular theory is that Mirabel is destined to be the next candle holder and keeper of the candle's magic, inheriting the role from her grandmother, Abuela. This theory is supported by several details in the film, including the symbolism of butterflies, Mirabel's unique connection to the magic, and her role in repairing the cracks in the family and the house.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for Mirabel not receiving a gift | She will inherit Abuela's gift |
| Evidence for the theory | Butterflies on Mirabel and Abuela's skirts, Mirabel holding a butterfly in Funko Pop, Mirabel's clothes embroidered with butterflies |
| Mirabel's role in the family | To repair the cracks in the family and the house, to help other family members improve their gifts |
| Mirabel's relationship with the house | The house interacts with Mirabel and responds to her, the house saves her when it's dying |
| Mirabel's connection with the magic | She has a direct connection to the magic, she is able to unlock the magic and other family members' hidden potential |
| Symbolism of the butterfly | The candle has a butterfly on it, the song "Dos Oruguitas" centres on a theme of butterfly metamorphosis as a metaphor for the change and growth that must come with life |
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What You'll Learn
- Butterflies on Mirabel and Abuela's skirts hint at Mirabel's future as candle holder
- Mirabel's dress includes embroidered butterfly details, a symbol of the magical candle
- Mirabel's self-imposed mission is to repair the cracks in the family and the house
- Mirabel's lack of a gift may be because she will inherit Abuela's role as candle holder
- Mirabel's door faded and the candle flickered, suggesting the transfer of magic to her

Butterflies on Mirabel and Abuela's skirts hint at Mirabel's future as candle holder
In Disney's Encanto, Mirabel and Abuela are the only two members of the Madrigal family without magic. While Abuela is the head of the household, the film's protagonist, Mirabel, is on a self-imposed mission to repair the cracks in the family and the house. This is reflected in the butterfly motifs on both Mirabel and Abuela's skirts, which hint at Mirabel's future as the candle holder and keeper of the candle's magic.
The butterfly is a prominent motif in the film, with the magical candle itself adorned with a golden butterfly symbol. The butterfly motif on Mirabel's dress includes prominent embroidered butterfly details, and Abuela wears a golden butterfly chatelaine at her waist. The song "Dos Oruguitas," which plays during the film's climax when Mirabel and Abuela reconcile, translates to "Two Caterpillars" and centers on the theme of butterfly metamorphosis as a metaphor for the change and growth that must come with life. This theory suggests that Mirabel is meant to be the next guardian of the miracle, with each new generation having an appointed person in that role.
The symbolism of the butterfly on Mirabel's skirt is further supported by the fact that every character in the film has a symbol on their clothes that represents their gift. For example, Camillio has chameleons on his poncho for shape-shifting, and Luisa has dumbbells on her skirt for strength. The butterfly motif on Mirabel's skirt, therefore, hints at her future role as the candle holder, as the butterfly is also present on the candle.
Furthermore, 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 center of her family, implying that the whole house is her domain. This, along with the fact that Mirabel is the only one who interacts with the house and that it always responds to her, suggests that she has become the new keeper of the miracle and the magic is now within her.
While some viewers interpret the butterflies on Mirabel and Abuela's skirts as symbolic of their roles in the family, others suggest that Abuela's gift was creating the mountains to protect her family, while Mirabel's gift was to break out of the cocoon and allow for their family's full metamorphosis. This interpretation still aligns with the theory that Mirabel is destined to be the next candle holder, as she helps her family break free from their trauma and embrace change and growth.
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Mirabel's dress includes embroidered butterfly details, a symbol of the magical candle
In Disney's Encanto, Mirabel is the only member of the Madrigal family who does not receive a magical gift from the candle. This has led to a popular fan theory that Mirabel is destined to become the next matriarch and keeper of the candle's magic.
One of the key pieces of evidence for this theory is the prominent butterfly embroidery on Mirabel's dress. Butterflies are a significant symbol in the film, appearing on the magical candle itself and in the song "Dos Oruguitas" ("Two Caterpillars"), which plays during the film's climax. The song's theme of butterfly metamorphosis is interpreted as a metaphor for the change and growth that must come with life, reflecting Mirabel's journey and the future of the Madrigal family.
The film's co-writer, Charise Castro Smith, has confirmed that the butterfly embroidery on Mirabel's dress is intentional and symbolic. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Castro Smith explained that the butterflies represent Mirabel's uncertainty but also her willingness to take flight and embrace change. The dress is also meant to evoke a first communion dress, reflecting the rite of passage that each member of the family undergoes when receiving their gift.
In addition to the symbolism of the butterflies, fans have also pointed out the similarities between Mirabel and Abuela's outfits. Both characters have butterflies on their skirts, further suggesting a connection between them and hinting at the possibility of Mirabel inheriting Abuela's role as the protector of the family's miracle.
Overall, the embroidered butterfly details on Mirabel's dress are more than just a fashion choice. They are a symbolic representation of her character arc and her potential future role as the new candle holder in the Encanto universe.
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Mirabel's self-imposed mission is to repair the cracks in the family and the house
The fact that Mirabel doesn't have a room of her own and sleeps in the nursery is significant. She doesn't have a special door like the other Madrigals, but at the end of the film, the front door of the newly rebuilt house features a glowing image of Mirabel at its centre, suggesting that the entire house is her domain. This implies that Mirabel is meant to eventually inherit Abuela's room and role as the protector of the family's miracle.
The theory that Mirabel is the new candle holder is supported by the fact that both Abuela and Mirabel have butterflies on their skirts, and in the film's climax, they reconcile with the song "Dos Oruguitas", which translates to "Two Caterpillars", and centres on the theme of butterfly metamorphosis as a metaphor for the change and growth that must come with life. Additionally, Mirabel's dress includes prominent embroidered butterfly details, and the candle has a butterfly on it.
Mirabel is the only one who interacts with the house, and it always responds to her. The house even saves her when it is dying. This special relationship between Mirabel and the casita is further evidence of her unique connection to the magic and her potential role as the new candle holder.
In conclusion, Mirabel's self-imposed mission to repair the cracks in the family and the house is central to the film's narrative. Her ability to connect with the magic, unlock the potential of others, and her special relationship with the casita all suggest that she may be the new candle holder, inheriting Abuela's role as the protector of the family's miracle.
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Mirabel's lack of a gift may be because she will inherit Abuela's role as candle holder
In Disney's Encanto, Mirabel is the only member of the Madrigal family without a magical gift. This has led fans to speculate about why the candle failed to give her a gift. One theory suggests that Mirabel's lack of a gift is because she will eventually inherit Abuela's role as the candle holder and leader of the family.
This theory is supported by several pieces of evidence from the film. Firstly, both Abuela and Mirabel have butterflies on their skirts, which could symbolize the transfer of power from Abuela to Mirabel. Additionally, the song "Dos Oruguitas," which plays during the film's climax when Mirabel and Abuela reconcile, translates to "Two Caterpillars" and centers on the theme of butterfly metamorphosis as a metaphor for change and growth. This could further hint at Mirabel's transformation into the new candle holder.
Furthermore, Mirabel is the only one who interacts with the house, which always responds to her and saves her when it is falling apart. This special relationship with the casita could indicate that she has a direct connection to the magic and is meant to be its protector. When the house is rebuilt at the end of the film, the front door features a glowing image of Mirabel at the center of her family, implying that the whole house is her domain.
Mirabel also seems to have a unique ability to help other family members unlock their hidden potential and improve their gifts. For example, when she reconciles with her sister Isabela, the candle glows brighter, coinciding with Isabela's discovery of new facets of her power. This suggests that Mirabel has a special connection to the magic and may be able to unlock its full potential for the family.
While this theory has gained popularity among fans, some have pointed out potential flaws. For instance, if Mirabel is the new candle holder, why didn't her door change to reflect that during her ceremony? Despite this, the theory provides a compelling explanation for Mirabel's lack of a gift and highlights her important role in the family's future.
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Mirabel's door faded and the candle flickered, suggesting the transfer of magic to her
In Disney's Encanto, Mirabel is the only member of the Madrigal family without a magical gift. This has led fans to speculate about why the candle failed to bestow a gift upon her. One popular theory is that Mirabel is destined to be the next family matriarch and keeper of the candle's magic. This theory is supported by several pieces of evidence from the film.
Firstly, both Abuela and Mirabel have butterflies on their skirts, and the candle is also emblazoned with a golden butterfly symbol. In addition, the song "Dos Oruguitas," which plays during the film's climax when Mirabel and Abuela reconcile, translates to "Two Caterpillars" and centers on the theme of butterfly metamorphosis as a metaphor for change and growth. These butterfly motifs suggest a connection between Mirabel and the candle's magic.
Secondly, Mirabel is the only one who interacts with the house, which always responds to her. The house even helps her when it is falling apart, suggesting a special relationship between Mirabel and the magic that inhabits the house. At the end of the film, the front door of the newly rebuilt house features a glowing image of Mirabel at the center of her family, further implying that the whole house is her domain.
Finally, during Mirabel's gift ceremony, her door faded and the candle flickered, suggesting that the magic was transferring itself from Abuela to Mirabel. This theory is strengthened by the fact that Mirabel's self-imposed mission is to repair the cracks in her family and the house, and she is the impetus behind the house being fully repaired and rebuilt. When Mirabel reconciles with her sister Isabela, the candle glows brighter, coinciding with Isabela's discovery of new facets of her power. This implies that Mirabel has a direct connection to the magic and might be able to unlock the hidden potential of other family members.
While some fans have pointed out that Mirabel's door does not change to symbolize her as the new candle holder, as Abuela's door does, others argue that the magic was simply not strong enough at the time of Mirabel's ceremony to provide her with a door or gift. However, by helping Antonio with his ceremony, Mirabel was able to strengthen the magic, which is why he received his gift and she finally got her room.
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Frequently asked questions
It is just a theory, but many fans believe so. The evidence for this theory includes the fact that Mirabel didn't get a gift and that she has a butterfly on her skirt, just like Abuela, the current candle holder.
Some fans believe that Mirabel didn't get a gift because she will inherit Abuela's gift when she becomes the new candle holder.
In Encanto, the clothes of each character allude to their gift. The candle has a butterfly on it, and Mirabel's clothes are embroidered with butterflies.
Mirabel is the only one who interacts with the house, and it always responds to her. The house even saves her when it is dying.
Being the candle holder means being the keeper of the candle's magic and the family matriarch.











































