Legends
Original title: Lendas
Short survey of Madeiran legends, noting that the annotator of the Saudades da Terra, Dr. Azevedo, treated only the legend of Machim and Ana d'Arfet at length and listed several religious legends he never published.
Legends of Madeira
The annotator of ‘Longing for the Homeland’ (Saudades da Terra) refers only very briefly to the legends that took shape over time among the peoples of this archipelago. He deals at length, and with great erudition, only with the well-known legend of Robert Machin and Ana d’Arfet, which we shall discuss in its proper place in this Elucidário. The legend of the Hidden Island (Ilha Encoberta), which is not peculiar to this region and generally forms part of the beliefs of the Sebastianists, takes on a particular aspect here: the island is said to lie, if the expression may be allowed, near Madeira, and there are people who claim to have seen it distinctly on certain mornings of St John’s Day. Apart from these and some legends of a religious character, Dr Azevedo mentions no other legends that were current on this island. He says: ‘Religious legends abound on the island of Madeira, and we are forming a collection of them; besides the three already mentioned (that of the Lord of Miracles (Senhor dos Milagres), in the Convent of São Francisco (St Francis of Assisi), that of Friar Pedro da Guarda, in Câmara de Lobos, and that of the foundation of the Convento das Mercês (Convent of Our Lady of Mercy)), we already have the following: that of Our Lady of the Mount (Nossa Senhora do Monte), that of the Lord of Miracles of Machico, that of Santo António da Serra, that of the Lord Jesus (Senhor Jesus) of Ponta Delgada, that of St Vincent of Saragossa of the islet (in the parish (freguesia) of São Vicente), that of St Martin and that of Nossa Senhora of the Orphan Girls’ Retreat (Recolhimento das Órfãs). We reserve them for publication in a separate volume.’ This volume was never published.
Apart from these legends or popular tales, we know of few on this island, but we shall mention those that come to our knowledge. In vol. 1, p. 44, under the title chapel of the Poor Souls (Almas Pobres), we have already referred to one of them.
In this article
Place
Places mentioned · 10
- Câmara de Lobos
Setting of the legend of Fr. Pedro da Guarda.
Parish west of Funchal. The Elucidário traces its name to Zarco's discovery voyage and describes its churches, chapels and collegiate chapter, early settlers, fishing community and renowned vineyards. It also records the parish's localities, boundaries, levadas and population.
- Convent of Our Lady of Ransom
Funchal. Its foundation is the subject of a legend.
The Convento das Mercês was a convent in Funchal, begun in 1654 as a lay retreat house for women, made a strict Poor Clare convent in 1663, and demolished from 1911. It was renowned for the austerity of its nuns, its foundation is the subject of a legend, and it gave the Rua das Mercês its name. Madre Brites da Paixão lived, died and was buried there, and its church held the image of Our Lady of Solitude.
- Convent of St Francis
Funchal. Site of the legend of the Senhor dos Milagres.
The Convento de São Francisco was a Franciscan convent in Funchal founded in 1473, which marked the western limit of the city in 1508. Its church was demolished in 1865, and its fittings, books, tombstones and bones went to the Angústias cemetery, the museum and the Municipal Library. Its buildings briefly lodged prisoners until 1836 and housed the police in 1857.
- Hidden Island
Legendary hidden island said to be seen near Madeira on St John's Day mornings.
Legendary hidden island said to be seen near Madeira on St John's Day mornings.
- Machico
Home of the legend of the Senhor dos Milagres of Machico.
The parish of Machico was the landing place of the discoverers Zargo and Tristão Vaz and the seat of the captaincy of Machico; the parish was founded c. 1450. The Elucidário covers its clergy and stipends, chapels, historical events, mineral springs, localities, population and notable natives.
- Monte
Funchal. Legend of Nossa Senhora do Monte.
Parish of Nossa Senhora do Monte above Funchal, at about 600 m, where leafing occurs later than in Funchal. It contains the localities of Jardim Botânico, Igreja and Marmeleiros and the Quinta de Sant'Ana. The Elucidário notes its many plants, such as acacias and Sonchus fruticosus.
- Ponta Delgada
São Vicente. Home of the legend of the Senhor Jesus.
Ponta Delgada is a parish on Madeira's north coast, one of the three parishes of the concelho of São Vicente, with a headland and a small fishing harbour. Its feast of Senhor Jesus is a great pilgrimage of vows, and it was the seat of a capitania-mor. It recorded 409 cholera deaths in 1856.
- Santo António da Serra
Machico. Subject of a religious legend.
An upland parish on a plateau above Santa Cruz and Machico, divided between those two municipalities. The Elucidário covers its settlement, church and Protestant troubles, and the short-lived Aldeia da Rainha colony of Porto Santo settlers. It also records its quintas, its lagoon, Burnay's dairy factory and the exile of a bishop there.
- São Martinho
Funchal. Subject of a religious legend.
São Martinho is a suburban parish west of Funchal, created in 1579 from São Pedro and partly added to the city in 1927. It had sugar factories, grew Tinta vines, and has characteristic volcanic bombs. It is the reputed birthplace of D. Nuno de Aguiar.
- São Vicente
Parish of the islet legend of São Vicente.
São Vicente is described as the largest and most populous parish of northern Madeira and the seat of the only town on the north coast. The Elucidário covers its settlement, church history, localities and landscape, and the deadly landslide of 1929.
People
People mentioned · 04- Álvaro Rodrigues de Azevedo1825–1898
Annotator of the Saudades da Terra, who began a collection of Madeiran religious legends that was never published.
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Legendary lover of Machim in the legend of the discovery of Madeira.
- Friar Pedro da Guarda1435–1505
Friar associated with a religious legend of Câmara de Lobos.
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Legendary Englishman said to have reached Madeira with Ana d'Arfet; the best-known Madeiran legend.