Traditional Festival all over the Island

FEST DOS SANTOS POPULARES (Popular Saints Festival) started on June 12 and finishes tomorrow, June 29.

One of the biggest traditional festivals celebrated all over the Island, which is also the high social point of many regions still today.

The festivities are dedicated to three popular saints; Santo Antonio (St. Antony) 13^th of June, São João (St. John) 24^th, and São Pedro (St Peter) on the 29^th.

Three great excuses to go out and celebrate the Saints in June.

The celebrations begin with St. Antony in the beautiful Church of Santo António, with parades, traditional food and great entertainment. St. Anthony is the saint of Love and a ‘match maker’. During this festivity people make bonfires on the streets and jump over them as tradition dictates. It is said, the highest leapers will be lucky in love. Many marriages also take place during this festival.

Saint John is the most popular saint celebrated all over the island. In Funchal, with its St. John's Altars, the traditional celebration is between the 19th – 24th, where local shops prepare and show off their altar creativity, followed by a celebration of traditional "marchas populares" (popular marches), plus entertainment and great food.

Porto Santo, from the 19^th to the 29^th, has lots of interesting events including traditional parades, jumping over bonfires on the beach and balloon release.

Saint Peter, being the protector of Fishermen, has its biggest celebration in the fishing ports of Câmara de Lobos and in Ribeira Brava.

Câmara de Lobos June 28^th, through July 2nd, combined with the big celebrations of Saint Peter also has the black scabbard fish Festival (Festa da Espada Preta) along great entertainment, live music, traditional dancing, fireworks display and food stalls set around the port, where you can enjoy a taste of delicious Madeira's specialties.

The black scabbard fish festival serves to promote one of the most typical gastronomic Madeiran specialties, that pay tribute to the local fishermen, who for generations were the only ones in the island who devoted themselves for the catch of this type of fish.

Ribeira Brava, June 28 and 29, displays great traditional celebrations that last through the night. Surrounded streets are decorated with colorful flowers, live entertainment, traditional dancing, music and food stalls are set on the beach. Popular night journeys are available between Funchal and Ribeira Brava. There will be a picturesque procession of boats held on the sea and a great firework display at midnight.

For more information, please visit: www.acropolisSGPS.com