What is The Red Thread?

The red thread Jesus leaves behind in the marketplace, symbolizes love. Though Ana has retained the string for many months, she does not show it to Jesus until after their marriage. Once he begins leaving Nazareth for work, he ties the string on her wrist to remind her of him. The string allows Ana to feel connected to her husband even in his absence. When the string fades and loosens, Ana fears the metaphoric meaning. However, even once the string disappears from the pages of the novel, Ana's love for Jesus does not, thus illustrating Ana's new understanding of her spiritual connection with others.