Portuguese contributions, culture, tradition and heritage in Bermuda were honoured in the heart of Hamilton today, 177 years on from the arrival of the first immigrants from Madeira.

A crowd gathered outside City Hall at noon as the Department of Culture held a proclamation to mark the occasion.

Lucia Botelho, the president of Casa dos Açores da Bermuda, said: “This is a celebration of ancestry, contribution and a shared Bermudian future.”

She added: “The Portuguese immigrants who arrived in 1849 helped lay the foundation for Bermuda’s agricultural success and have since become an important part of the island’s economic, social and cultural development. Their legacy continues to influence Bermuda today.”

Ms Botelho read a statement on behalf of Andrea Moniz-DeSouza, the Honorary Consul of Portugal in Bermuda, who was unable to attend.

Ms Moniz-DeSouza said the decision to recognise and commemorate November 4 was “deeply meaningful”.

She also spoke of remembering the perseverance of those who came before and the importance of not letting history and traditions be forgotten.

Bermuda’s links to Portugal date back at least to 1543, a year marked in an inscription on a rock near Spittal Pond made by shipwrecked Portuguese sailors

However, on November 4, 1849, the Golden Rule arrived in Bermuda from Madeira after a 21-day voyage, bringing with it the first recognised group of 58 Portuguese immigrants.

Thousands more made the journey, a significant number from the Azores, in the years that followed.

“They came seeking opportunities and a better future for themselves and their families,” Ms Moniz-DeSouza wrote.

“They arrived with very little in material possessions, but with an abundance of courage, determination, resilience and a willingness to work hard.

“They left behind their families, their homeland, their language and everything familiar to them, embarking on a journey into the unknown.

“They could not have imagined that 177 years later they would still be commemorated or that their descendants would become such an integral part of the fabric of Bermudian society.”

She added: “The Portuguese did not simply come to Bermuda to work — they helped build Bermuda.”

Michael Branco, the Mayor of Hamilton, extended his gratitude for the Portuguese community’s contributions.

He said: “As someone who is proud of their own Portuguese heritage, this occasion holds particular significance for me.

“It is an opportunity not only to celebrate the achievements of generations past, but also to reflect on the traditions, value and the sense of community that continue to connect us today.”

He added that Portuguese culture had enriched the island in “countless” ways.

Mischa Fubler, the government senator and Junior Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport, called the commemoration a “celebration of history and an inspiration for the future”.

“Today, our Portuguese neighbours, friends and family are represented across every facet of our society,” he said.

Mr Fubler brought proceedings to an end as he read the proclamation and declared November 4 Celebration of the Arrival of the Portuguese Community Day.

The island has formally commemorated the date since 2019.