Madeira Events News  Madeira New Year  Madeira Traditions   

As we got a big audience for last year's Madeira 2009 fireworks show, despite the short notice, this year we will be transmitting the famous Madeira New Year's Fireworks show live, here on MadeiraHelp.com from an even better location, where one may see most of Funchal amphitheatre.

So keep your eyes on our home page for the first minutes of the new year 2010 and you will feel like you are in Funchal, admiring this amazing show.

UPDATE: Live broadcast statistics total viewers 18637, peak 1145 visitors. HD version

Madeira Events News  Madeira Traditions   

The image of Holy Mary the Pilgrim (Nossa Senhora Peregrina) is one that travels through all parishes of Portugal and the last time it was in Madeira was in 1948.

The image arrived in Madeira on the 13th of October 2009, where it was received by thousands of devoted people and until the 13th of May it will travel through all 96 parishes of Madeira archipelago.

From the 26th of November to the 13th of December 2009 the image of Holy Mary the Pilgrim is visiting Ponta do Sol and Ribeira Brava parishes.

Yesterday Holy Mary visited Lombada da Ponta do Sol where there was an outdoor mass followed by a procession of candles.

The following days, until the 13th of May when the image will return to Fátima, in mainland Portugal, "Nossa Senhora Peregrina" will have the following schedule:

• 13th Dec 2009 to 10th Jan 2010 - the Holy Mary will visit several religious institutions instead of parishes;
• 10th Jan to 24th Jan 2010 - visits Câmara de Lobos parishes;
• 27th Fev to 6th Mar 2010 - visits Porto Santo parishes;
• 6th Mar to 21st Mar 2010 - visits Santana parishes;
• 21st Mar to 11th Apr 2010 - the Holy Mary will visit several religious institutions instead of parishes;
• 11th Apr to 12 May 2010 - visits Machico and Santa Cruz parishes;
• 13th May 2010 - departure of "Nossa Senhora Peregrina" from Madeira

Madeira Traditions   

Funchal Christmas Lights 2009 by Wind Birds

This year there will be 400 thousand lights coloring Funchal city though for now only downtown is lightened. By the 4th December all lights will be on.

Madeira Traditions   

During summer months Madeira Islands held popular and religious festivities in all parishes. By this time of year, when all emigrants are here visiting their families the church celebrates the patron of each parish and so it becomes a big popular festivity in each place.

Monte church with the bandstand all decorated

All roads on each parish are decorated with colorful plastic flowers (reused every year) and stalls are built to held bars, butchers to sell meat for the famous "espetada" or small shops to sell toys and Madeira typical sweets. To fulfill the environment there is plenty of music from bands and from each stall as well.

One of the most popular festivities in Madeira is the "Arraial do Monte" where religious people who made promises thank to "Nossa Senhora do Monte" for their achievements. This event is always on the 15th of August which is a Holiday in Madeira though the strong festivity happens on the eve of this holiday.

Nossa Senhora do Monte at Monte church

Madeira Traditions   

On the eve of the 6th of January it is tradition friends joining in groups and singing Epiphany's songs at the doors of other friends. In order to emphasize such traditions Ponta do Sol council has organized some groups to sing to Epiphany, as the last day of Christmas, in the village center before going to their friends and family houses.

MadeiraHelp team has been there and has recorded and compiled this festivities to show Madeira traditions at its best to the world. We want to preserve the best of Madeira - its people and traditions! Have a look and enjoy!