You can watch the famous Madeira New Year’s Fireworks show live … via the following live stream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/madeira

The broadcast starts today at 23h30 (GMT).

We wish you all a Happy 2010 … with lots of health, love, happiness and new challenges.

You want a sneak preview of what you can expect to see? Then check the following video of the last fireworks made by Gil Santos. (more…)

Filmed yesterday … edited in the evening and uploaded at midnight. Result …. a dramatic film (thanks to the music added by Youtube) of the fury of the waves at the marina of Lugar de Baixo.

It is just as spectacular as the New Year’s Eve Fireworks in Funchal (that will take place in a few days).

So here is another event next to the Fireworks on Madeira …. the Waterworks.

Noite do Mercado (Night of the Market) is a traditional celebration in Funchal that will take place tonight and will last all night long. The location of this event will take place in the famous Funchal market (Mercado dos Lavradores) and the streets surrounding the market. It will be crowded with joyful people creating a real festive happening …. with lots of singing Christmas carols, dancing, drinking and having fun.

The bars in the area are opened all night and will be serving traditional drinks. Also the Christmas traditional carne vinho alhos (meat with wine and garlic) will go from hand to the mouth. Also present is a vast display of regional fruit and vegetable being sold … handy for those who want to do a last minute grocery shopping.
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This year (and also 1st day of 2010) Madeira expects to re-break the world record for the title of hosting the biggest firework display in the world. A title that was give to Funchal in 2006 by the Guiness Book of Records.

The company Macedo Pyrotechnic, who will be directing the New Year Firework theatrical performance in Funchal, is making preparations for the 8 minutes exhibition … using the Funchalense sky as a stage. There will be over a million protagonists namely lights and colors lighting up the black velvet sky (cross our fingers).

The show is called ‘Ilhas Afortunadas’ (Fortunate Islands) and it consists of launching over 97,000 individual fireworks, … which is a far superior number than the 67,000 that has burned the sky in 2006 and resulted in Madeira earning the Guiness Book of Records title then.

There will be approx. 40 launching points with 17 tonnes of fireworks spread over various locations in Funchal. The island of Porto Santo will not be left behind and will also have its own firework show.
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Madeira … is a Wine with the name of an Island … an Island with the name of a Wine.

IVBAM (The Wine, Embroidery and Handicraft Institute of Madeira) has created a promotional and historic video about the Madeira Wine … famous fortified wine made in the Madeira Islands.
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On the island of Madeira they have learned how to fish for this deep sea delicacy, a fish that dwells more than a mile below the sea. They are called “scabbard fish” (or Espada in Portuguese), …. These are super-creepy looking fish, with giant eyes and teeth to suit them for the perpetual twilight of their deep sea world.

Read more about Eating deep ocean fish – Independent food tips by Donald K. Burleson

Missa do parto (Childbirth Mass) is one of the religious mass celebrations that takes place in most churches on the Madeira Island. It is a Christmas tradition that starts nine days (novena) before Christmas. Each day of those nine days represents a month of the pregnancy of the Virgin Mary, and it finishes with the midnight mass (Missa do Galo) on 24th December.

The services have to take place before daybreak in recognition that the baby Jesus was born at night. In many locations the neighbors and church visitors all unite celebrating with instruments and singing traditional songs. Madeirans wake up very early in the morning to attend the Missa de Galo as an expression of devotion to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is believed that if an individual completes the nine consecutive days, the act would merit a wish made by the devotee being granted.

Afterwards the Missa do Galo (Rooster’s Mass) takes place around 12:00 a.m. on Christmas Eve.

It is said that the mass owes its name to the idea that a rooster would have been among the first to witness the birth of Jesus, and thus be the one to announce it.

Strange title … but it’s true. Madeira Diving School Tubarão Madeira came with the idea to place and decorate a Christmas tree on the sea bed.

They prepared the tree in a way that it was easy to place it under the water. The Christmas balls were filled with water in order not to drift off. This initiative was not only a surpirse for the visitors that were diving in the area …. but also for the fish who were not used to this human tradition … although some daredevils went nibbling on the balls.

The tree will stay underneath the ocean until the New Year and …. they will repeat this new tradition in the same site next year.
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I came across an error in the Google Maps. Searching for Mercado dos Lavradores within the Google Maps … I see that they have identified it at the wrong location on the map. Actually according to G-map it is under a highway viaduct (?).

If people use G-maps to find their way in Funchal (or other locations on Madeira) then no wonder they get lost.

The best way to describe the location of the market is walking up the road of Rua Dr. Fernao Ornelas and you will see the market at the other side in front of you. Or walking from the Electricity museum a few blocks up.

I now wonder if there are more mistakes like these in Google Maps concerning Madeira? If anyone finds more errors … please let me know.

Kaitlin Sowinski, young American amazon from Hopkinton (Rhode Island – US), lives in Madeira (3 months) and plays professional basketball with Clube Amigos do Basquet (CAB) of Funchal.

In her blog she describes how she (tries to) adjust to live on a island like Madeira. The differences she encounters in the area such as culture, food, language, and daily living habits. Also she gives a firsthand impression of what options are available for people her age, …. what to do and having fun (or not) …. in comparison with US ‘standards’.

In her blog-post Life might not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here we might as well dance! Kaitlin takes us into the nightlife of Funchal.

Coming fresh off my senior year of college I thought I had an exceptional tolerance to the multiple exhaustions and demands of a typical night out on the town, but then I came Madeira. I honestly don’t think the general population works Friday to Monday because I can’t think of any way people could party in this manner and still be functional for a full day of work on Monday.

Well Kaitlin …. you would be surprised to know how many do even continue to work in the weekend. Why do you think most locals here wear sunglasses … all the time!