National Holidays
| Date | Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Ano Novo | New Year's Day. Beginning of the year, marks the traditional end of "holiday season". |
| Tuesday, date varies | Carnaval | Carnival. (Also called Mardi Gras). Not an official holiday, but declared by the government as a non-working day. Very ancient festival celebrating the end of the winter. It gained Christian connotations, and now marks the first day of a period of 40 days before Easter Week (Semana Santa, Holy Week), thus also known as Entrudo. |
| Friday, date varies | Sexta-Feira Santa | Good Friday. |
| Sunday, date varies | Páscoa | Easter. Used for family gathering to eat Pão-de-Ló and "Folar" (an Easter cake) and Easter eggs. In the North, a sort of church members processions (compasso) visits and blesses every home with an open door, thus meaning they are Catholics. Traditionally, this is the second visit of children and non-married youngsters to their godparents, receiving an Easter gift. The first visit is on Palm Sunday, 7 days before, where children give flowers and palms to their godparents. |
| April 25 | Dia da Liberdade | Literally, "Freedom Day". Celebrates the Carnation Revolution, marking the end of the dictatorial regime. Event of 1974. |
| May 1 | Dia do Trabalhador | Labour Day. |
| Thursday, date varies | Corpo de Deus | Corpus Christi. Christian feast celebrating the Eucharist. |
| June 10 | Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas | Portugal Day. Marks the date of Camões death. Camões wrote The Lusiads, Portugal's national epic. Event of 1580. Celebrated in many of Portuguese communities in the United States of America, such as the Ironbound in Newark, New Jersey |
| August 15 | Assunção | Assumption of Mary. |
| October 5 | Implantação da República | Implantation of the Republic, or Republic Day. Event of 1910. |
| November 1 | Todos os Santos | All Saints Day. Day used for visiting deceased relatives. |
| December 1 | Restauração da Independência | Restoration of Independence. Event of 1640. |
| December 8 | Imaculada Conceição | Immaculate Conception. Patron Saint of Portugal since 1646. |
| December 25 | Natal | Christmas Day. Celebrated in the 24th to the 25th as a family gathering to eat codfish with potatoes and cabbage, roasted kid and turkey; seasonal sweets and dry fruits; drink Port wine; and share gifts. |
Portuguese popular song: (English Translation)
- "Santo António já se acabou. (Saint Anthony is over)
- O São Pedro está-se a acabar. (Saint Peter is ending)
- São João, São João, São João, (Saint John, Saint John, Saint John)
- Dá cá um balão para eu brincar." (Give me a balloon, for me to play)
Read more about this topic: Culture Of Portugal
Famous quotes containing the word national:
“I would dodge, not lie, in the national interest.”
—Larry Speakes (b. 1939)