Holy-Days and Holidays 



pushing or scrambling. It was a fine example 

 of give-and-take and self-control. 



These processions, and the festas of their 

 parochial churches, are almost the only public 

 amusements of the populace. They never lose 

 their attraction. On every such occasion 

 thousands of country-folk tramp many miles to 

 the scene — romeiros (literally " pilgrims to 

 Rome ") they call themselves. And the Church 

 in no way frowns on a combination of innocent 

 amusement with religious exercise. The ordi- 

 nary adjuncts of a fair are present. Cheapjacks 

 ply their trade, lottery-mongers conduct raffles 

 for dolls and other toys, vendors of fruit and 

 sweatmeats line the walls. The holy-day and 

 the holiday are still one. 



I append to this chapter a list of the Pro- 

 cessions of Funchal, with which my friend 

 Canon Homem de Gouvea, of the cathedral, 

 has been good enough to furnish me. As far 

 as I am aware, this information is not elsewhere 

 to be found in print. 



In the course of the year each important 

 parish has its own procession. That of our 

 parish, St. Martinho, takes place on Palm 

 Sunday, and traverses the main roads of the 



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