Encanto major spoilers alert!
I’ve noticed a theory going around that Mirabel will inherit Abuela’s position as candle-bearer, and although this is an interesting idea, I would like to point out that there actually might not be a candle at all anymore.
At the start of the movie we see the magic spread out from the candle creating the enchanted Casita.
But at the end of the movie after the family have rebuilt the house with the help of the villagers, the magic spreads out from the doorknob Mirabel takes hold of.
The carvings on the door don’t show Abuela or anyone else holding the candle anymore.
And I watched closely and although there were normal-looking thin candles in the new house here and there, there was no ‘magical’ candle anywhere to be found.
The doors were also in that sparkly state of flux for the ending, so the carving with Abuela holding the candle that was on her door earlier in the movie wasn’t visible either. Perhaps it will never return and isn’t meant to.
So the magic the family has is no longer from the candle that originated from Abuelo’s sacrifice and Abuela’s desire to protect her family, but is now from the family’s acceptance of one another and themselves in all their imperfections, especially in how Abuela embraces Mirabel as just as special as the other family members even without a magical gift.
Perhaps Abuela carrying the candle around at times was symbolic of her carrying her worries about the magic one day disappearing if she and her family couldn’t stay worthy of the magical gift. She wanted to keep it close. She wanted to keep it safe.
So there not being a frail flame for her to carry around anymore could very well symbolize how she is no longer is burdened by the fear they will lose their magic. None of the Madrigals are, because together they know their worth, their courage, and their family bonds don’t come from a magical candle. They simply exist. So they’ll be just fine.
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