6 Easter Traditions in Madeira Island
Madeira's Easter traditions make us relive memories of our Christian ancestors, and continuing this celebration does not leave them forgotten. Certainly if we ask any older family member everyone will remember them and mention them vividly.
Here is an article that gives an excellent opportunity to learn about these traditions on the island of Madeira.
1.Quaresma
Lent begins after Carnival, more precisely on Good Friday, for 7 weeks it is seen as a period of abstinence and you cannot eat meat on fridays.
2.Balamento e Pião "pawn"
’’Balamento’’ In Madeira, during Lent or Holy Week, is played until the Friday before Easter Day and it is a traditional game of this festive season between families or friends. Every day, the player has to say the word “Balamento” when his opponent is distracted. The participant who is the fastest wins a point and, therefore, whoever loses will have to offer, usually a packet of almonds. This activity was part of the culture of sugar cane production on the Island when many Madeirans traveled to Brazil to work in the sugar cane industry, so much so that the word originates from Brazil.
According to some reports, some people masked or hid themselves in order not to be easily discovered by the opponent.
The pawn is a popular game played in many locations in Madeira, traditionally at Easter, in which there are tournaments, such as in Porto da Cruz, aiming to remember the tradition of elder times.
3.Domingo de Ramos " Sunday of Branches"
This tradition is associated with the entry of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem to celebrate Easter, with palm leaves, because it represents the victory of the martyrs, or the victory of the spirit over the flesh. In Madeira, the tradition of people carrying the well-known palm hearts, built from the leaves of palm trees, is maintained.
4.Good Friday
Even on Holy Thursday, Christians celebrate the day when Jesus had his last supper and it was when the ancients ate bread and fish for dinner to associate with the multiplication that Jesus made of these foods.
Good Friday is the day of Jesus' crucifixion and death and for this reason Christians practice fasting based on abstinence from meat once again, and go to Mass to worship God and attend his burial. In the past it was even forbidden to listen to music and television, but as time passed this faded. On this day it is typical to eat cod with yam and chickpeas.
Even in some municipalities on the island, they portray Jesus' suffering when staging the crucifixion in the form of a parade, as is the case of Câmara de Lobos.
5. ’’ Saturday Hallelujah ’’
Hallelujah Saturday is the day before Easter and the 'Easter Vigil' takes place, in which Christian believers gather in constant prayers in the name of Jesus, awaiting the arrival of his resurrection. You can also celebrate it at Mass early in the morning.
6.Easter Sunday
On this day people attend religious ceremonies, and get together with their family to share and socialize, and eat the typical Easter lunh, roasted lamb and a good red wine. Currently, for the youngest ones there is still the custom of buying Easter eggs and hiding them, in an act of fun.
In addition to chocolat eggs and sweet almonds, there is a traditional Easter sweet in Madeira called sugar “torrões”, very popular with locals, and also the traditional sweet cake from Ponta do Sol.
