In Madeira Island the Christmas parties start in the very beginning of December. Funchal city gets illuminated with lights of all colors, surrounding the trees and making many different figures above de streets.

The tradition says that everybody must make liqueur of many different fruits like custard apple, tangerine, mandarin, passion fruit and so on. It is also a costume getting some molasses cookies and molasses cake made. The cake is very rich in spices and dry fruits.

Typical is also the 23th December night when people from all over the island get to Mercado dos Lavradores (Funchal city market), drinking, eating, singing Christmas Carols and enjoying Christmas spirit.

In the dawns from 16th to 24th December, about 6 a.m., a mass is celebrated to praise to Our Lady and to prepare a Christmas far away from the consumption and from the materialistic side of it. They are denominated by the locals Missas do Parto, parturition masses.

There is another catholic celebration which is Missa do Galo, cock's mass, that takes place on Christmas Eve at 12 p.m., allusive to Jesus Christ birth.

The gifts are usually offered and opened in the 25th December. In the same day the lunch served in every home is Carne de Vinho e Alhos which means garlic and wine pork due to its condiments, and it is served with potatoes boiled and bread fried in its condiments sauce. The dessert is usually Arroz Doce, sweet rice, a pudding made with rice, condensed milk, eggs and cinnamon.