Fogo de Artifício Ilha da Madeira 2012 from Super Especial on Vimeo.

Up to now this is one of the top most beautiful videos of Madeira Island that I came across on the Web. This video is entitled “Momentâneo” made by Filipe Gomes from Madeira.

This video is for sure a homage to Madeira Island. Obrigado (Thank You) Filipe for making this and share it with us.

The month of December can be a very busy one … especially for those who are preparing for the holidays festivities and Madeiran traditions. One of these traditions is the Presépio …. which is set up starting from 8th of December. It is the Christmas Nativity with all the usual figurines. You will find it in most homes here on Madeira and also in hotels and restaurants.

A hint: when you come across a Presépio … take a few minutes to contemplate the work and if you see the owner/maker of it, praise their work. If you do this before ordering dinner … you might get a discount.

Apart from the Presépio, Madeira also has other Christmas customs … such as Lapinha. Lapinha is a display with the figure of baby Jesus on top of what looks like a miniature mountain. In the middle they usually display fruits and the bottom there are small pots of freshly sprouted wheat. The believe is that the seeds are potted between 1st and 8th of December …. and if the wheat is later planted and grows well, a good harvest is assured. Most Lapinha’s are extended with all kind of toys, miniature village, wooden trunks, stones and plastic animals. Some more elaborate constructions boast even mountains made of hardened, dark paper, and water in form of ponds or even a stream. Sapatinhos (Ladies Shoes orchids) and other flowers are also used.

Other tradition is that on the nine days before 24th of December, devoted Madeirans go to mass (very early) in the morning …. to pray for Mary’s nine months of pregnancy, … and each service is finished with a small get-together in front of the church …. most of the times chanting songs, music and enjoying home-made liquor.

But that is not all ….
The traditional-conscious Madeiran, on New Year’s Eve, carries something borrowed, some coins … and 12 raisins in hand. Equipped with these …. at the stroke of midnight … he/she can make 12 wishes … that might be granted until next December.

These are the traditions I could come up with. If I missed any, then please tell us which one in the comments. Obrigado!

Check out the various channels of Madeira on Social Media:

Follow @Madeira

Secret Madeira

Secret Madeira

Madeira Quase Esquecida

Secret Madeira

Madeira Quase Esquecida

Short video of Paúl da Serra, Rabaçal and Madalena do Mar made by Peter Hürlimann.

This is one second most beautiful video of Madeira Island that I have come across on the Web. This video is entitled “Magnificent Madeira” made by Pavel Masek from the Czech Republic.

This video is truly a homage to the Madeira Nature and a perfect example how one should be celebrating its beauty.

Madeira … a Portuguese archipelago that lies between 32°22.3′N 16°16.5′W and 33°7.8′N 17°16.65′W, just under 400 km north of Tenerife (Canary Islands), in the north Atlantic Ocean. Although it is the outermost region of the European Union … it is an unique and mysterious island with its stunning rock formations, subtropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting and vivid turquoise waters teeming with colorful marine life. One might doubt that maybe Atlantis has not disappeared completely under the sea … but it still exists.

Cascades of the Levada do Caldeirao Verde (Photo by Rafael Fresno)

Madeira is known as the “Flower Island“, but instead it would be more fitting to call it “The Green Pearl of the Atlantic Ocean” with its 13,010,405,091,801 type of green colors it holds. If you do not believe us, then come over to Madeira and count the colors green that you will see.

The colors of Madeira Islands have always been a delight for travelers. Rumors states that when the first settlers discovered the island more than 1,000 years ago … the first thing they saw was the mysterious accumulation of colors in the horizon that was rising from the ocean.

Small village in the between the mountains (Photo by Don Amaro)

Not only the natural elements of flowers, trees, and other vegetation plays an important role here on this island, but also the sky, cliffs, mountains, ridges, coast, clouds etc. All these are instruments that Mother Nature uses to maintain her work of art … that is known to be also her favorite holiday destination.

Rainbow at Balcões (Photo by Alan)

Laurisilva Forest of Madeira …. an UNESCO World heritage since 1999, covering 149.5km2 of the island. Thanks to the Laurisilva is Madeira considered a Green Paradise with an endemic type of humid subtropical laurel forest … found on several of the Macaronesian islands of the north Atlantic, namely the Azores, Madeira Islands, and the Canary Islands. The laurel-leaved evergreen forests are made up of hardwood trees, that reaches up to 40 meters in height. It is the largest surviving area of laurel forest and is believed to be 90% primary forest. It contains a unique suite of plants and animals, including many endemic species.

Sunrise at Paúl da Serra (Photo by Don Amaro)

Madeira is also an island that rises about 6 km from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, reaching, even surpassing the clouds. Therefore Madeira has seems to have two surfaces, namely one above the sea and below the clouds (if any) …. and the other one above the clouds and below the stars.

Levada Walk (Photo by Don Amaro)

Come to Madeira and celebrate with us its nature, … discover its biodiversity, … and at the same time we call you to support us with its conservation.

More images ….

A sequel on Mysterious scenery that often is seen here on Madeira Islands. Just like the UFO’s … it suddenly appears … it captures our attention …. for always engraved in our memories …. and not many people believe when we tell them what we saw. Luckily there were a few of us that quickly could capture these magical moments on image.

Watch the following magical moments captured on image by travelers that have visited Madeira Island … these images are able to cover the prominent world paintings with a veil of shame.

You have booked a holiday to the island of Madeira. At the arrival at the Madeira airport … you go and collect your bags/suitcases … head out with your partner where you are welcomed by your hostess or you are going to the car rental desk. Afterwards you leave the airport building where you might need to wait a while for the transfer bus or car. Then my question to you is the following …. What is the first thing you do while you wait?

• To look at your watch and wondering how long it will take;
• You are checking your bags if they have sustained any damage;
• You discuss with your partner where you are going to eat tonight … hotel or in the city;
• You are wondering what time the return flight is;
• You hope that your hotel room will be ready and whether you will get sea-view;
• You are wondering what the weather today is, … and what is the forecast for tomorrow and the rest of the week;
• You check if your mobile is still working and send an SMS to the home front;

OR

While you are waiting, … together with your partner, you look to the South and admire the vast ocean. You realize that you are in the middle of the Atlantic. You can see the Islands Desertas (deserted islands) and more to the East you see the peninsula Ponta de São Lourenço, that has a completely different structure from the rest of Madeira. Furthermore you look to the North and you will notice how mountainous the island is … and that it even extends beyond the clouds. You will see the steep slopes of the West Coast displaying the various colorful villages.

In other words …

• You look around and enjoy the environment.

What do you do?

Madeira Tourism launched the ‘Nr. 1 Fan of Madeira’ Contest.

Participants are entitled to a prize of 1,000 euros for the best photo, and a prize of 1,000 euros for the best video submitted. The prize will be awarded according to the vote of the fans themselves, who will make their choice and will give their opinion on the “Like” link.

The photos and videos that obtain the largest number of votes through this voting system will win, and the public presentation of the winners, nominated for each category as being “Nr. 1 Fan of Madeira”, will take place at the end of the month of August 2011. (more…)

Madeira has various ‘Arraiais‘ all year round. Arraiais are traditional regional festivities that is celebrated with street processions, flower carpets, churches and street decorations with lights, colorful flags, music, traditional folklore, food and drink. Each town/parish has its own Arraial and they can differ one from another. To give you an impression of such an Arraial …. check out the following videos made by resp. Rui Martins and ‘Berdades’.