If I was spending New Year’s Eve in Madeira for the first time, I would be very excited… Why? I can mention the award-winning firework display, the joyful locals, the beauty of Funchal’s bay, the magnificent cruise ships by the harbour, the Christmas lights, the after-parties, the music concerts and so on…but it’s something that is so unique that no words can make justice to what you experience in Madeira. You have to come and see it for yourself. To help you get prepared for this evening, I thought I’d share with you some fun superstitions about this evening. Some of them you might have heard before, others not. If you do come to Madeira on New Years, here are a couple of things you can see and try… Turn on the lights of your home and open all the windows. I remember ever since I was a little girl, my mum always had this ritual. She said it would make the bay of Funchal look even prettier and it would welcome the new year …

“Nowhere in the world, perhaps, celebrate and enjoy Xmas so much, and feel for it as much enthusiasm and joy as in Madeira. These are days of lively rejoicing, of  religious and mystical contentment. ” Manuel Ribeiro I’ve just came back from Costa Brava last week and it was a great pleasure to arrive in Madeira and to feel Christmas all around. We call it “Festa” since this is “the true party” for the Madeirans. I went through the avenues of Arriaga Avenue, cheered up with the Christmas lights (which I love), listened to live music performances, went to the market to eat bread with” wine and garlic meat”, tasted liqueurs and cherry from the Nun’s Valley plus the typical sugar cane honey cake. I was well accompanied by the euphoria of Christmas, the one that we drink, eat and breath in this island…celebration is everywhere. This year, I also paid special attention to the nativity scenes or “lapinhas” “that link the religious traditions of Christmas to local life and nature”. There were 5 in total, …