Events

From the second half of December until Christmas eve, Madeirans get up at the crack of dawn to participate in the masses honoring Our Lady. After mass, in the church square, people share sandwiches of “carne de vinha d’alhos” (pork...

The New Year’s fireworks show, lasting about eight minutes, is launched from across 58 fireworks stations located in Funchal’s amphitheater (26 stations), Cais 8 and Praia Almirante Reis (25 stations), at sea (5 stations) and Porto Santo Island (2 stations)....

On the 5th of January, at 7 pm, hymns of the Epiphany are sung at Praça do Povo, in a concert open to the public which revives this Madeiran tradition. The Arrival of the Three Kings is celebrated on the...

Largo da Restauração This Ethnographic Village presents live examples of local traditions, crafts, food, folklore and two traditional nativity scenes, promoting the tangible and intangible culture of Madeira. There are two types of traditional nativity scenes: the traditional~Madeiran one located...

The Christmas Market features several decorated stalls offering tourists a wide range of regional products, handicrafts and foods that are typical of the Christmas season, including plants, fruits, sugar cane honey and its by-products, for take away only.

The official kick-off of Madeira’s Christmas and New Year celebrations takes place on December 1st, marked by the enchanting moment when the spectacular Christmas lights in Funchal’s downtown area are switched on. Madeira turns into a festive wonderland, spreading the...