Even if, like me, you fall into the last category, you will be pleasantly surprised by this season in Madeira as there seems to be little of the 'commercial-mas' aspect which many find offensive.
There are pageants and services for the more religious but for those who just like the whole Christmas thing, the lights, the celebrations and the atmosphere are pleasantly excessive without being clichéd.Madeira, particularly Funchal is known for it's Christmas lights and this year they have excelled. Switched on progressively from late November, at the time of writing this they are all on and blaze a path all the way from the Lido to the old town (where you will find the best of them) and many other streets too.
Pre-Xmas celebrations peak with the 'Market Night' street parties around Funchal's famous Mercado dos Lavradores, culminating in Midnight Mass on the 24th.
But that is not the end of it, oh no! After a short respite, the parties continue until the fantastic fireworks of New Year's Eve. It's impossible to find superlatives sufficient to describe this pyrotechnic phenomenon, suffice to say that it currently holds the Guinness Book Of Records entry for the biggest, most lavish firework fantasia anywhere in the world!
Resources:
There is a list of hotels still with New Year's Eve availability here.
Or a private apartment in Canico.
And a good list of Christmas festivities and celebrations here.
