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ex-voto

/ɛksˈvoʊtoʊ/
IPA guide

Other forms: ex-votos

When religious offerings are left because of a vow that somebody made in prayer, those offerings are called ex-voto. Usually, ex-voto offerings are left on display.

An offering that is left on display is called a votive offering. An ex-voto is a specific kind of votive offering, and is common in the Catholic faith. Essentially, an ex-voto offering is made because you vowed to a saint or divinity that you would make it, but they can also be made just out of gratitude to that saint or divinity.

Definitions of ex-voto
  1. noun
    an offering left to a saint or god in gratitude or because of a promise
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