The traditions make this holiday season a very special time for the islanders.
The buzzword states that Christmas is when men want. Not true, in Madeira the festive season unlike the rest of the territory is lived in a very intense way and covers a variety of traditions that make it unique in Portugal. Everything begins and ends with the holy family. The rise of a crib is one of the first moments involving the family at this festive season, everyone participates. First, the mother plant wheat to adorn the scenario that will be assemble, children paint paper to imitate the volcanic soil, all go up to the mountains seeking for heather to strategically place at the manger, then unwrap up the plaster figurines around the cave where the baby boy Jesus sleep, the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, the cow and the donkey (the tradition continues even if the pope has said there is no evidence that these animals were present in the miraculous event!) and placed the little shoes as we call it, a species of orchid that is traditional in this time. In the kitchen mothers prepare also the honey scones, cakes and liqueurs that fill the compartments with savory odors that are offered to friends and family who come to see and appreciate the crib. It is the perfect excuse for a gathering!
Another of the great local Christmas traditions is birth masses. At dawn, around five in the morning, Christians and less faithful enter into the road in the dark night toward the church where the parish priest celebrated from December 16th until Christmas Eve, a homily in honor of Our Lady, Mary, mother of God. It is a moment of great joy for the local people who to this day maintain this habit that dates back to the colonization of the islands. Bells, chants and hymns fill the slopes and paths to the sound of music of the guitars and accordions, authentic pilgrimages ending loud in the church altar. It all end when the sun peeks out, but people still imbued with the spirit of Christmas talk, laugh and drink a poncha cheerfully, before another day of work and say goodbye until tomorrow in a mass.
The night of the farmers market in Funchal is what gathers more people, on 23rd of December, farmers and producers across the island put their fresh products for the Christmas dinner for sale through the night until dawn. This is the last of shopping before the eve of the birth of Christ and is celebrated with a hard party. There is music, carols, drinks, sandwiches of meat wine and garlic in the streets to the delight of young and the old. It's a crowd that occurs over the city to perpetuated one of the favorite traditions in Madeira, and I guarantee that Christmas is still what it was, because it is more alive than ever! Merry Christmas where ever you are!
Outra das grandes tradições natalícias madeirenses são as missas do parto. De madrugada, por volta das cinco horas da manhã, fiéis e menos fiéis encetam a estrada na noite escura em direcção a igreja onde o padre da paróquia celebra desde o dia 16 de Dezembro até a véspera de natal, uma homilia em honra a nossa senhora, maria, mãe de Deus. É um momento de grande alegria para as populações locais que até os nossos dias mantém este hábito que remonta à colonização das ilhas. Sinos, cantos e hinos enchem as ladeiras e os caminhos ao som de rajões, violas e braguinhas, autênticas romarias que terminam ruidosamente no altar da igreja. Na saída já o sol espreita, mas as pessoas ainda imbuídas pelo espirito natalício conversam, riem e bebem uma poncha alegremente, antes de mais um dia de trabalho e despedem-se com um até amanhã na missa.
A noite do mercado dos lavradores no Funchal é a que reúne mais gente, no dia 23 de Dezembro, os agricultores e produtores de toda ilha colocam os seus produtos frescos para a ceia de natal à venda pela noite dentro até de madrugada. São as últimas compras antes da véspera do dia do nascimento de cristo e são celebradas com uma festa de arromba. Há música, despiques, bebidas e sandes de carne vinho e alhos nas ruas que fazem as delícias de miúdos e graúdos. É uma multidão que ocorre a cidade para cumprir mais uma das épocas preferidas dos madeirenses, o natal e garanto que ainda é o que era a tradição, porque esta mais viva do que nunca! Feliz Natal!
