Worry dolls or wish dolls are very popular in some South American countries. Particularly in Brasil where my grandmother came from. The dolls are mainly for young children who cannot sleep at night. The child is to tell the dolls their worries or problems and place the dolls under their pillow. These dolls are believed to grant wishes and make the child’s worries disappear. Usually to help them sleep at night. I was born here in the United States as well as my parents. However my grandmother arrived here from Brasil around the early 1950s. She met my grandfather who was in the US military and station in Brasil. They decided to get married and he brought her to the US to raise my mom and her sisters. Ever since then my grandmother always traveled back and forth to her home country and each time she will come back with gifts. When I was about four or five years old my grandmother came back from Brasil and gave me this small wooden box. Before I opened it she told me very carefully how important this object was. She said to make sure I take care of them and to tell them all my problems and that they will listen and make everything come true. Inside were about six or eight very tiny dolls. I thought they were the cutest little things and I did exactly what my Mama told me. My grandmother gave me these dolls, and although they are a tradition in the Brasilian culture, she brought them to a child in the US, who still believed in them.

– Tori Fant

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant