Every year, December 8th is celebrated in the country as the day of the Immaculate Conception. The whole celebration is involved in traditional commerce and has lasted for several decades. The local commerce decorates its shop windows with the best props and products, with images allusive to this Christmas time, thus attracting customers to buy their Christmas gifts in these shops. Also, as a way to encourage traditional shops, the town councils promote a shop window competition, which chooses the best-decorated mount with a prize.
In addition, the streets already lit up and decorated with Christmas elements fill a crowd, which really conveys a true Christmas feeling.
This year, and in view of the pandemic that the world is going through, the celebration will be done in other ways. Instead of the celebration taking place on a single day, it will be extended for 4 days (from 8 to 11), thus avoiding large crowds.
Azores Showcase Day
Picture by Câmara Municipal de Ponta Delgada