They came at first to do the jobs Bermudians did not want to do, but the Portuguese have come to be known for much more than just a willingness to work hard.

Members of the Portuguese and Azorean community discussed the aspects of their culture they cherish the most, as they prepared to celebrate the 170th anniversary of the Portuguese arriving in Bermuda.

A strong sense of community and the spectacle of religious festivals, as well as industriousness, were among the attributes they outlined as central to their culture. Eugene Lima, a retired welder and fabricator, highlighted festivals organised by the Portuguese community, including the Feast of the Holy Spirit Festival, which he created 25 years ago under the Roman Catholic pastoral committee.

Other Portuguese festivals include the Feast of Sao Joao and the Santo Cristo festival. Mr Lima said: “The festivals are a big part of our heritage in the Azores and are all based on the Catholic faith.

“Every parish on the island commemorates their patron saint.

These religious celebrations are very, very important to us. It is our tradition and what we bring our children up to understand and be a part of.

“We also have the folklore groups like the Portuguese dancers.”

Robert Pires, the chairman of Bermuda Investment Advisory Services, added: “Really, what the Portuguese have provided for the community is a high degree of industriousness.

“They came here in the first instance to do jobs that Bermudians were not interested in — gardening, construction, and more recently cleaning.

“The Portuguese have also brought malasadas, Portuguese doughnuts which are one of the number one foods from Portugal that people like.

“We also brought red bean soup and we introduced codfish to the West Indies.”

Mr Pires said: “The Azoreans are very hospitable people. They invite people into their homes and if they see people in need, they frequently go out and share with them what they have.”

Theresa Ferreira moved to the island in 1966 to join her husband and worked as a caregiver, dressmaker and saleswoman.

She is a volunteer for the Friends of Senior Citizens charity and works as a Pink Lady at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital in her retirement.

Ms Ferreira said the Portuguese “contribute a lot to Bermuda and a lot of people help each other. Years ago when they built their houses they would get together to help each other.”

Bermuda will celebrate Portuguese Day, a public holiday in honour of the contributions of the Portuguese over the past 170 years, for the first time next Monday.

Mr Lima is part of the organising committee, which has arranged a series of events around the holiday including a visit from Vasco Cordeiro, the Azorean President.

He said: “It is well overdue that our community is recognised in Bermuda and our Premier was kind enough to give us this holiday.

“We appreciate it and are doing the best we can to bring the whole community together.”

All three spoke of the need for Government to tackle immigration problems, which they said was the biggest challenge for Portuguese people in Bermuda.

Mr Lima explained: “I think that a pathway to Bermuda status is very important not only to the Portuguese community but the community as a whole.

“Portuguese people have contributed a lot to Bermuda economically and socially.

“I think that the Government should recognise that and come up with a decision on how we are going to deal with our young people, who feel like they don’t have a country.

“They pack up and they leave and that hurts the economy.”

Ms Ferreira said: “The community is doing very well compared to when I came in 1966. They have so many opportunities now that we did not have before. Immigration needs to be improved for the children. Some of them cannot have Bermudian status.”

A weekend of events to celebrate Portuguese Arrival Day

Saturday

• Vasco Cordeiro, the Azorean President, will arrive in Bermuda and call on John Rankin, the Governor

• Block party on Reid Street between Burnaby and Parliament Streets, sponsored by the Vasco da Gama Club, from 6pm to midnight

• David Burt, the Premier, will host a reception

Sunday

• Mr Cordeiro will visit Commissioner’s House, Ireland Island to view the Azorean Exhibit

• Mass at St Theresa’s Cathedral at 1.30pm, followed by a Procession of Faith through the Victoria Street and Dundonald Street area and a coffee social hosted by the Portuguese Pastoral Council at Mount Saint Agnes Academy

• Mr Cordeiro will be the special guest at the 170th Anniversary Gala at Discovery Hall, CedarBridge Academy from 7pm. He will be joined by culture minister Lovitta Foggo

Monday

• Portuguese Day public holiday. An official ceremony and tree planting and monument plaque will be unveiled at the Botanical Gardens at 11.30am

• Mr Burt and Mr Cordeiro will inaugurate the Casa dos Açores da Bermuda charity at No 1 Admiralty Park at 12.30pm

• Mr Cordeiro will visit the Vasco da Gama Club to meet the executive and membership in the afternoon

Tuesday

• Mr Cordeiro will visit Mr Burt and the Cabinet at 9am