 As my grandfather recalled as a young lad…" Funchal, once a year, became a mock battle zone for rotten eggs, small bags of water, sand or lupine seeds, flour and any noxious yet, harmless type of bomb and ammunition, including confetti and paper streamers. Early in the morning on the day of the Entrudo or Adeus à Carne (good-bye to meat) curtains were tied back, window glass shielded and rugs were carried out as not to be spoiled by a flying rotten tomato, or special sawdust balls containing viles of a "stinking" liquid that when crushed would send people out of their homes gasping for some fresh air. I still remember young boys and girls going over to their neighbours' and greasing the door handles with lard… they'd even grease the steps and wait anxiously behind a few banana trees for the grand finale! The streets of Funchal were jammed with masked souls from the above windows, but they were equipped with their own stash of rotten oranges, tomatoes, etc., for a counter-attack! In the 1920's merrymakers passed down the street in open wicker-toboggans throwing, and ducking bombardments from the windows. At the pier children frequently threw only flowers at disembarking cruise ships. It seemed like a kind of 'battle-of-flowers'".
|
