An elderly woman born in 1906 has celebrated her 117th birthday with her 107-year-old ‘little’ sister and says the secret to a long and happy life is to put your faith in God.
Cicera Maria dos Santos has lived nearly her entire life in the Brazilian countryside and her age now reported means she is one year older than Spanish woman Maria Branyas Morera, who is officially the world’s oldest woman as of March this year, according to Guinness World Records.
During her working years, Cicera sold chickens at the local market in Paraiba, and on Saturday, 23rd September, she celebrated her 117th birthday along with her sister Josefa Maria da Conceicao, 107.
The sisters told local media that the secret to living a long life is to have faith in God and to eat properly.
And despite being descended from slaves, the sisters have enormous faith in God.
Cicera said: “The peace of the Lord be with us. Who can do more than God? Everything is God.”
And Josefa said: “You have to eat. Beans, corn, cassava, potatoes.”
Slavery was practised in Brazil from the middle of the 16th century until its abolition in the 1860s.
Josefa’s grandson Ruan said: “They descend from people who were actually enslaved.
“Five generations ago my family was enslaved. They survived everything from the last century, and they beat COVID.
“The greatest happiness in the world is to be with them here today.”
The birthday bash featured cake, snacks and a round of applause, according to local media, with friends and family paying tribute to the two sisters.
It is unclear if Cicera or her family plan to contact Guinness.
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Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash
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