Procession of St Barbara
Original title: Procissão de Santa Bárbara
Military procession in honour of Saint Barbara that went from the chapel of São Lourenço in the fortress to the Colégio church in Funchal, paid for by soldiers of every rank.
It left the chapel of St Lawrence (São Lourenço) in the Fortress and made its way to the church of the College (Colégio) (Igreja do Colégio, the Jesuit college church), where a feast was held in honour of the saint. According to tradition, the procession was organised by the military, and all of them, from the highest-ranking officer down to the simple soldier, contributed a certain sum towards the expenses of the feast.
In 1826 there was in Funchal an association of brethren of St Barbara, whose purpose was to distribute alms to people in need.
The image of St Barbara, which belonged to the chapel of St Lawrence, is today in the church of the College.