Public holidays in Portugal
Public holidays celebrated in Portugal are a mix of religious (Roman Catholic), Town, City, national and by Autonomous regions of Portugal.
Public holidays in Portugal
| Autonomous Regions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | English name | Portuguese name | Notes |  |  |
| 1 January | Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God | Solenidade de Santa Maria, Mãe de Deus |  | | |
| moveable | Carnival | Carnaval | Carnival in Portugal is an annual festival, that ends on Shrove Tuesday (called Fat Tuesday in Madeira - Terça-feira Gorda in Portuguese) the day before Ash Wednesday (first day of Lent). This is an optional holiday, although it is usually observed. 47 days before Easter Sunday. | | |
| moveable | Good Friday | Sexta-feira Santa | Friday before Easter Sunday | | |
| moveable | Easter | Domingo de Páscoa | Sunday, date varies. * | | |
| 25 April | Freedom Day | Dia da Liberdade | Celebrates the 1974 coup d'état that ended the Dictatorship and started Democracy | | |
| 1 May | Labour Day | Dia do Trabalhador | Similar to Labor Day celebrated worldwide. | | |
| moveable | Corpus Christi (feast) | Corpo de Deus | Thursday, date varies. 60 days after Easter Sunday. It is religion based. | | |
| 1 June | Azores Day | Dia dos Açores | Celebrated in Azores | | |
| 10 June | Portugal Day | Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas | National Day | | |
| 1 July | Madeira Day | Dia da Madeira | Celebrated in Madeira Island | | |
| 15 August | Assumption | Assunção de Nossa Senhora | A religious account of the taking up of Mary into heaven. | | |
| 5 October | Republic Day | Implantação da República | Celebrates the end of Monarchy and the beginning of the Portuguese Republic | | |
| 1 November | All Saints Day | Dia de Todos-os-Santos | In terms of Western Christian theology, the feast commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in heaven. | | |
| 1 December | Restoration of Independence | Restauração da Independência | Celebrates the end of the Philippine Dynasty (1580–1640) | | |
| 8 December | Immaculate Conception | Imaculada Conceição | According to Roman Catholic Dogma, the conception of the Virgin Mary without any stain of original sin | | |
| 25 December | Christmas Day | Natal | | | |
| 26 December | Boxing Day | Segunda Oitava | "Segunda Oitava" is part of Madeira's centuries old Christmas celebrations which has been recognized as bank holiday[1] by the Regional Government of Madeira. | |
|
* - Computing the Date of Easter: The Date of Easter The Date of Easter
Revoked holidays in 2013–2015
In 2012, the Coalition government of Pedro Passos Coelho controversially revoked four holidays — two civilian holidays (Republic Day and Restoration of Independence) and two religious ones (Corpus Christi and All Saints Day). The move was effective from 2013 onwards and was presented as a measure to increase productivity, in the context of the 2011–2014 Troika bailout to Portugal (even though that measure was never requested by the Memorandum of Understanding). Public debate and re-evaluation were scheduled in 2018 for the religious holidays.
The four holidays were eventually restored by the government of António Costa, in January 2016.
Local holidays
| Date | English name | Portuguese name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 March | St. Joseph's Day | Dia de São José | Celebrated in Santarém. |
| 13 June | St. Anthony's Day | Dia de Santo António | Celebrated in Lisbon where on the Avenida da Liberdade, there are the Marchas, a parade of folklore and costumes from the city's different traditional quarters, with hundreds of singers and dancers and a vast audience applauding their favorite participants. As St Anthony is the matchmaker saint, it is still the tradition in Lisbon to celebrate multiple marriages (200 to 300). |
| 24 June | St. John's Day | Dia de São João | Celebrated in Porto, Braga, Figueira da Foz, and Almada.
Porto and Braga celebrate with a big festival and fireworks over the River Douro (in Porto) and down Avenida da Liberdade (in Braga). Across the country a traditional midsummer bonfire is also built and following an ancient pagan tradition, revelers try to jump over the bonfire, this in order to gain protection during the rest of the year. |
| 29 June | St. Peter's Day | Dia de São Pedro | Celebrated in Alfândega da Fé, Bombarral, Castro Daire, Castro Verde, Évora, Felgueiras, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Montijo, Penedono, Porto de Mós, Póvoa de Varzim, Ribeira Brava, Ribeira Grande, São Pedro do Sul, Seixal and Sintra.
Just like St. Anthony's Day and St. John's Day, St. Peter's Day is celebrated with a traditional midsummer bonfire, where people jumps over and perform a tradition known as "Queimar a Alcachofra" (Burn the Artichoke) which symbolizes the "Good Which Fulfill". |
| 4 July | St. Elizabeth's Day | Dia de Santa Isabel | Celebrated in Coimbra |
| 21 September | St. Matthew's Day | Dia de São Mateus | Celebrated in Viseu, and Elvas |
References
- ↑ "Decreto Legislativo Regional n.º 39/2012/M" (PDF). Jornal Oficial da Região Autónoma da Madeira. Governo Regional da Madeira. December 21, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2016.