Essay: Proud Madeiran women brought new energy to the Feast

Every August, people around the South Coast get excited about the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament. But this year, the zest in the air was different.

It wasn’t the aroma of malasadas or Madeira wine. Or the performances from cultural dancers and singers. It was because women of Madeiran heritage were finally able to enjoy the Feast as proud planning participants.

“The best thing about this feast is people making friends with each other and families working together. And the women have doubled the numbers, so they have brought that new energy and excitement,” said John Alves, vice chairman of the Museum Committee within the Club Madeirense S.S. Sacramento.

Preparation for the next Feast begins the day after the current festival ends. And because it’s a family event, you’d imagine that organizers would take all the help they can get.

But not everyone who has wanted to be a part of the decision-making and planning for this event has previously been welcomed to do that work. Traditionally, the planning committee has been a coveted position granted only to men of Maderian heritage, each called a “festeiro.” The men have been the ones who put together the events and figure out logistics, while women have supported on the sidelines for generations.

Although women may have given their input and ideas to their spouses and relatives who were a part of the committee, they were not allowed to officially make contributions or be recognized as a “festeira.” This was a feat Madeiran women only achieved this year, more than 100 years after the club’s establishment in 1915, after the threat of a gender discrimination lawsuit.

“It was a long time coming,” said former City Councilor Jane Gonsalves. “I had been asking various members of the club when they were going to change the bylaw to allow women for over 25 years.” 

Gonsalves is now excited to finally serve on the committee next year, alongside her brother and sister.

Looking ahead to next year, Gonsalves said, “The march through the arches down Earle Street will probably be an emotional time for us. We lost our father before we could serve with him; we lost my niece last year; and my mother died two years ago. For all of us to march together, the three siblings, it will be really emotional.”

After the club’s bylaws changed in April, 34 women served on this year’s committee. Although they only had a few short months to prepare with their male counterparts, they made great headway in establishing themselves as equals.

Tara George served on this year’s committee and is grateful for the experience.

“This was about family. This was about making sure that families, as a whole, got to serve together. We are seeing fathers with their daughters and sisters, being able to serve together. I have to say, it has probably been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had,” said George.

As the first “festairas,” the women on the committee raised the Madeiran and Portuguese flags ahead of the Feast’s commencement. They also marched in the parade with their families, as men have for decades.  

Women felt elation as the Feast began, including 73-year-old Philomena Abreu Tabor, who has been attending the Feast since she was a little girl. 

“It’s the greatest thing. We did all the work over the years, through our husbands, our brothers and our fathers. I’m glad we can be members. My daughter can be a member now. She and I are going to be in it together,” she said.

Whether or not they meant to, the women who advocated for this historic change over the years, especially those who made the final push, set an example for local women of all ages.

Their hard work and tenacity allowed for Madeiran women to be a major part of the biggest celebration of their heritage and family traditions — showing women that it is possible to take up space and venture into places that have usually kept them out.

“I think for a woman who is afraid to enter a man’s space, so long as she has a support system and a sisterhood behind her, [she] could accomplish anything,” said Gonsalves.

Aliana Liz Tavares is a freelance writer and contributor to The Light.