The city of Funchal pays homage to its Patron, St James the Less, every year on the 1st of May. The Old Town of Funchal and particularly Santa Maria Street and Corpo Santo Square experience a special kind of revelry, in a party depicting a typical Madeira arraial.

St James the Less is the Patron Saint and the Health Guardian of Funchal. Since 1538, when authorities handed over the guard of the city’s inhabitants health to St James the Less, there has been the upholding of the tradition of honouring the saint with the Voto da Cidade Procession, which parades through the streets of Funchal's Old Town up to Socorro Church.

Together with this event, a popular festivity also takes place throughout the Old Town: Corpo Santo Square, Santa Maria Street and the surrounding areas are particularly bedecked for this calebration which brings to special animation to this location lasting 4 days.

Source: Madeira Tourism Board

Madeira Flower Festival Parade which was supposed to be held on Sunday afternoon but was postponed due to rain showers, took place on Monday on a lucky and dry 2 hours and a half - from 2pm to 4:30 pm. Rain has stopped to assist to the colorful and child enthusiastic parade. Just after last group got to the finish place it started to rain and forecasts say it will get worst...

Madeira always has a bit of luck in what regards to weather during its main touristy events!

On new years eve Funchal downtown gets crowded! This year Funchal bay will host 12 cruise ships with about 13 thousand persons who will enjoy the fantastic fireworks show from the sea. At land the hotel beds capacity is around 95% which means that New Years celebrations are the highest tourist season in Madeira.

For 8 minutes Funchal amphitheater will roar under the sound of 67 thousand shots of colorful fireworks spread through 37 stations and will amaze about 150 thousand persons between tourists and locals.

The main event today is the athletics race around Funchal city, popularly called São Silvestre race. This is the oldest San Sylvester race in Portugal and one of the oldest in Europe with 49 annual editions already. More than one thousand persons take part on the biggest sport event in Madeira and thousands more go to watch and give support to participants. This race is divided into 3 different courses for different groups:

• At 7,45 pm - Race for youngsters until 15 years old
• At 8 pm - March for Health - march for persons between 0 and 100 years old
• At 9 pm - San Sylvester Race - athletics competition with 6000 meters distance for persons with or older than 16 years old.

Other matter which is taken care as last minute on this day is where to go for New Year's celebrations... If you are coming to Madeira and still do not know where you will see the fireworks, contact Madeira Wind Birds as they still have few places available.

This is the "Second Eighth", in Portuguese Segunda Oitava, when almost everybody gets back to work except students and some shops which were open longer during Christmas eves. It is almost a normal working day though with plenty of things to talk about with work colleagues and friends and also some street animation in downtown Funchal to entertain tourists. At Madeira airport today is a very busy day as most of the visitants who chosen Madeira as their New Year's celebration destination are arriving today and tomorrow.