Legend has it that two sisters, Marie-Jacobé and Marie-Salomé landed on the beach of Les Saintes. They where coming from Palestine on an unsafe boat, in company of some followers of Christ. Marie-Jacobé and Marie-Salomé converted the nomads who frequented the lagoons to the new faith. After a charitable life, the sisters received the sacrement from the bishop of Arles : Saint-Trophime.

Others claim that Sarah was recruited after the arrival of the two sisters.

The gipsy tradition has it that during the migrations which took them from the eastern countries toward the sea, a woman of dark skin guided them through their trials. The gipsies identify Sarah with this mythical personnality and she thus became their patron Saint.