RELIGIOUS
Easter is one of the most important religious events in Madeira. This is a time full of traditions and customs that are lived with great intensity by the devoutly Catholic Madeiran population. Here are some of the events that took place in Holy Week this year:
ON HOLY THURSDAY:
During the Mass of the Lord’s Supper that took place at the Sé Cathedral, the Bishop of Funchal, D. António Carrilho, celebrated the traditional “washing of feet”, this year in collaboration with 3 members of the confraternity “Confraria do Santíssimo” from the Sé parish, 3 seminarians, and 6 patients from the health institution: “Casa de Saúde de São João de Deus”.
ON GOOD FRIDAY:
A group of locals from the Santa Cecilia parish acted out the Stations of the Cross in Pico da Torre (Câmara de Lobos). Among the local “actors” there is always someone who carries the Cross, and enacts the crucifixion.
At 7pm, thousands of Madeiran Catholics gathered at the Sé Cathedral in Funchal for the Good Friday procession known as “O Enterro do Senhor” (The Funeral of Our Lord).
FOOD
FOLAR DA PÁSCOA: A sweet bread, scented with cinnamon and Fennel seeds, often with one or more cooked eggs nestled in the center.
AMÊNDOAS: Sweet candy-covered almonds of different colours.
TORRÕES DE AÇÚCAR: These are very popular. The main ingredient is sugar, and there are different flavours, eg. Cocoa, almond, walnut, strawberry, orange, coconut, etc.
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