In Madeira tradition dictates that homes are decorated on the holiday of the 8th of December - day of Our Lady of Conception. Despite the Christmas tree it is typical to assemble the Christmas crib or, as we call in Madeira, "a Lapinha". Normally the Lapinha can be build in 2 different ways:

• the usual Christmas scene with the figures of Holy Mary, Baby Jesus, Joseph, the 3 wise men but then with many sheep, cows, donkeys, shepherds and children miniatures and some offerings as fruits of the season around.







• An altar where baby Jesus is on the top and his offerings placed around him

It is also common to decorate the Lapinha with searinhas which are crops of corn, wheat, lentil or lupine in small vases. Its seeds are usually soaked for 1 or 2 days and then are planted on the 8th of December so they are relatively grown on Christmas day. Some native plants to Madeira are also used such as the Climbing Butcher's Broom Semele androgyna - Alegra-campo in Portuguese, the Hare's Foot Fern Davallia canariensis - Cabrinhas and some other not native as the Lady Slipper Orchids Paphiopedilum sp..





Merry Christmas to everyone and a Happy 2012!