Liberty Day: April 25

Liberty Day is a public holiday in Portugal.

Liberty Day is celebrated in Portugal to remember the famous Carnation Revolution that took place on April 25, 1974. Often referred to simply as 25 de Abril, the day is a remembrance of the oppression that led to the revolution and is a renewal of the country’s democratic values and ideals of liberty, equality, justice, solidarity, and fraternity.

History of Liberty Day in Portugal

Beginning in 1926, the Portuguese people were ruled under a military dictatorship. Several liberties were taken away by the government, and no political parties were accepted in the country. In 1974, a movement led by military captains undertook a revolution that ended with the surrender of Marcelo Caetano’s government.

Led by a group of captains including General Antonio Spínola and General Costa Gomes, the revolution had its pretext in a movement started by military officials. They were not in agreement with a new law about their promotions, and they had a deep desire to end the war that Portugal had with its African colonies. The coup of Caetano’s government was successful due to the lack of motivation of the military forces to continue under such a government, one that kept on sending its military to territories in Africa.

The wars in Africa had been raging for 13 years, and few saw a resolution to the disputes. The Captains Movement took to organizing itself, hiding from the opposing government forces inside military organizations. The main events of the Carnation Revolution took place in the military headquarters of Carmo in Lisbon, where the revolutionaries managed to complete a victorious coup without shooting a single bullet. Thanks to the timely occupation of public communication centers and the mobilization of underground resistance groups available at the time, the rebels were able to mobilize the people to support them in the streets on that same day.

Its triumph allowed political parties to take back the republic power, marking the Portuguese Second Republic. The Carnation Revolution also led to quick and sometimes messy negotiations to release the Portuguese colonies around the world as well as the demobilization of Portuguese armies in those territories.

Portugal’s Liberty Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

The revolution had a deep impact on Portuguese life, with many people who lived through the revolution participating in ceremonies. On this day, it is common to wear carnations on the lapel. Carnations became the symbol of the revolution when during the day of the revolution, a daily flower vendor decided to give carnations away rather than sell them as a way to show support for the revolution. While marching through the streets, the military put the carnations in their guns barrels as a symbol of their peaceful intentions towards the people.

The celebrations start early in the dawn from the Carmo Headquarters, where the Republic’s president and prime minister meet to officially start the celebrations. In the Parliament a solemn session is held on this day with interventions from all the political parties and their representatives, followed by a speech from the Parliament’s president, and finally the Republic’s president takes the stand to deliver his speech.

Foreign presidents from Portuguese ex-colonies usually join the session and have a lunch in the president’s official residence. During the day, there are several stages set in all public plazas in the country, where there are political speeches and musical concerts. In Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, there is a military parade in the afternoon along Liberty Avenue.

All Saints’ Day: November 1

All Saints’ Day is a public holiday in Portugal.

All Saints’ Day is a celebration of all Christian saints, known and unknown, and especially for those saints who have no special feast days of their own. It is observed worldwide by Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Protestant churches. In Portugal it is annually held on November 1, as with many western countries and in many eastern churches it is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost.

History of All Saints’ Day

Some sources say that the idea behind All Saints’ Day dates back to the Greece. Christians in Greece during the fourth century would celebrate a festival, in late May or early June, in honor of all saints and martyrs. Other sources state that a celebration known as “All Martyrs” began as early as the third century. Anyway, the idea behind it was that there were so many martyrs and saints within the Christian faith that it was hard to keep a day for each, therefore this day would celebrate all those that were left out of the official Church calendar. Known is that Pope Gregory IV made All Saints’ Day an official holiday of the Catholic Church in the year 837. Pope Gregory IV chose the date, November 1, as an attempt to Christianize several pagan festivities known as the Festival of the Dead, or Feast of Saman, lord of Death, mainly a Celtic festivity. Later, in the year of 993, the monastery of Cluny, in France, began the celebration of All Souls’ Day on November 2, which quickly spread among Christian Communities.

All Saints’ Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

All Saints’ Day is observed by Christians around the world. In Portugal, churches ceremonies are held in memory of the patron’s saints of chapels, churches and parishes. Later on the day, people will bring flower arrangements to the graves of dead relatives and light candles as a symbol to enlighten their way into Heaven. All Saints’ Day is closely related and celebrated in the same date, even though All Souls’ Day is on the next day. It is common to buy on this day a very typical Portuguese cake called Velhote, or Old Man in English.

Portugal Day: June 10

Portugal Day is a holiday celebrated in Portuguese communities around the world.

Portugal Day, or sometimes called Camões Day, is celebrated by Portuguese communities the world over to commemorate the unity of the Portuguese who have settled in all parts of the Earth.

History of Portugal Day

Macau was the first European colony in Asia, having been occupied by Portuguese settlers who came to that part of the world in the 16th century. Macau has played a significant role in Portuguese history, a history which includes the arrival of the renowned Portuguese poet Luís de Camões in 1556. It is said that he wrote his epic poem, “Os Lucidas”, in Camões garden in Macau, and the poem included strong themes of Portuguese pride and history.

Camões was an explorer and wrote the poem during his travels. He had gone to great lengths to save his poem, including an attempt to keep the writing above water after being shipwrecked. He is celebrated as a national hero, and his poem was treated as one of the best of Portuguese literature.

June 10 has been celebrated as Portugal’s national day since independence from Spain in 1640. This date—the day Camões died—was chosen because official birth records didn’t exist for the Portuguese poet. In 1944, a change came about with reference to the day as The Day of the Portuguese race, using Camões as a symbol of the Portuguese race.

Portugal Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

Celebrations of the Portuguese culture and people aren’t limited to Portugal alone. With Portuguese folk scattered around the globe, different customs have appeared. In Newark, New Jersey in the United States, for example, the Portugal Day Festival draws in thousands of people, requiring months of planning in advance. Festivities in Macau are still vivid despite the area being handed over to China by Portugal in 1999. Celebrations in Brazil, Canada, and other parts of the world remind people of the Portuguese people and their culture.