Baked Dough Doll - Traditions of Madeira

The baked dough doll ‘boneca de massa’ is a tradition that originated in Caniço, Santa Cruz. This tradition was almost lost however the people of the Curral das Freiras social committee recently decided to revive the tradition.

It is a doll made of flour, water, yeast, egg dye or tangerine and salt. After mixing the ingredients, the dough is worked manually in order to give life to the friendly traditional doll. Seeds are used for the "eyes" and coloured ribbons to make the hair and the clothes. Then it goes to the oven for 20 minutes and is ready to be sold.

In the past, these dough dolls were a mandatory presence in the typical island festivities.