Night of the MarketNoite do Mercado do Funchal

Noite do Mercado is Funchal’s famed Christmas tradition where locals converge at the Mercado dos Lavradores on December 23 to shop for holiday produce and enjoy festive foods 1. In the evening, market stalls brim with fruits, vegetables, and Madeira wine, and the celebration culminates in a massive choir singing traditional carols in the Praça do Peixe at midnight 2 3. It is often cited as the largest community gathering in Madeira and a quintessential Madeiran event 4.

This festival dates back to at least the 1890s, originally held at the old market (Mercado D. Pedro V) and continuing today at the Mercado dos Lavradores 1 2. It combines food, music, and community spirit, reflecting Madeira’s agrarian traditions and Christmas customs. The Confraria dos Cantares (song brotherhood) still leads midnight carol singing, echoing decades of musical tradition 3.