The Arraiais
If the religious festivals, here called arraiais, dot the annual calendar, there are some that stand out for their magnitude. In mid-August, the Senhora do Monte is celebrated in Funchal. The two days of festivities (14th and 15th August) are very lively and popular, making the picturesque and romantic town of Monte one of the liveliest places in Madeira. Dedicated to all and especially to those who have emigrated, it is undoubtedly the main manifestation of popular devotion in the entire Autonomous Region. A large procession follows the Mass and in the evening dancing takes over. Festivities celebrating the Assumption of the Virgin Mary often begin two weeks beforehand. At the beginning of September, in the locality of Calheta, Nossa Senhora do Loreto (Our Lady of Loreto) is also celebrated, while in Ponta Delgada it is Senhor Bom Jesus who is honoured. Hundreds of pilgrims from all over the Island then converge on the village in what may well be one of Madeira's most important processions. In the first week of October, in the Chapel of Senhor dos Milagres de Machico - one of the oldest in Madeira - the Lord of Miracles is celebrated. In a night procession, thousands of people from all over Madeira come to Machico, lighting up by candlelight alone in a very fervent atmosphere. On each of these occasions, the churches are very involved in the organisation of the celebrations, and the people of the villages are also involved. A lot of lights, flowers and folkloric animations punctuate these celebrations.
Christmas and New Year in Funchal
Two weeks before December 25, a presepio, a crib depicting the birth of Jesus, blooms in the smallest mountain village. Some of them are impressive for the size and the care they receive. It must be said that all the inhabitants of the hamlet give of themselves and work together. When we know that each family has its own personal presepio, it goes without saying that the traveller only sees the tip of the iceberg... Funchal's Christmas and New Year celebrations are impressive: folk music orchestras, garlands of flowers and light shows brighten up the entire city centre of the capital. From the beginning of December, preparations begin with the inauguration of the Christmas illuminations and the preparation of the typical pastries of this festive moment (bolo de mel and broas de mel). The children plant seeds in small pots that will germinate about ten days later, announcing fertility and renewal for the new year, while ephemeral kiosks offering fruity ponchas and other gourmet sweets are set up here and there. Musical performances are held every December evening, culminating in the grandiose New Year's Eve firework display in the Funchal Bay amphitheatre (this celebration was officially recognised in 2007 by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest firework display). On the evening of the 31st, as some 350,000 light bulbs decorate the city and cruise ships crowd into the Bay of Funchal, at midnight sharp, all the inhabitants of the island's capital open their doors and windows and turn on their lights. It is said that at this very hour, the consumption of electricity is such that all the rest of the island is deprived of it!
