Public holidays in Portugal

Public holidays celebrated in Portugal are a mix of religious (Roman Catholic), town, city, national holidays and holidays of the Autonomous regions of Portugal.

Public holidays in Portugal

Autonomous Regions
DateEnglish namePortuguese nameNotesMadeiraAzores
1 JanuaryNew Year's DayAno Novo☑☑
moveableCarnivalCarnavalCarnival 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.☑☑
moveableGood FridaySexta-feira SantaFriday before Easter Sunday. Observed 30 March 2018☑☑
moveableEasterDomingo de PáscoaObserved 1 April 2018☑☑
25 AprilFreedom DayDia da LiberdadeCelebrates the 1974 coup d'état that ended the Estado Novo government and established the Portuguese Third Republic.☑☑
1 MayLabour DayDia do TrabalhadorSimilar to Labor Day celebrated worldwide.☑☑
moveableCorpus Christi (feast)Corpo de DeusThursday, date varies. 60 days after Easter Sunday. It is religion based. Observed 31 May 2018☑☑
1 JuneAutonomous Region of Azores DayDia dos AçoresOnly celebrated in Azores.☑
10 JunePortugal DayDia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades PortuguesasNational Day.☑☑
1 JulyAutonomous Region of Madeira and Madeiran Communities DayDia da Região Autónoma da Madeira e das Comunidades MadeirensesOnly celebrated in Madeira.☑
15 AugustAssumptionAssunção de Nossa SenhoraA religious account of the taking up of Mary into heaven.☑☑
5 OctoberRepublic DayImplantação da RepúblicaCelebrates the end of Monarchy and the beginning of the Portuguese Republic.☑☑
1 NovemberAll Saints DayDia de Todos-os-SantosIn terms of Western Christian theology, the feast commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in heaven.☑☑
1 DecemberRestoration of IndependenceRestauração da IndependênciaCelebrates the end of the Philippine Dynasty (1580–1640).☑☑
8 DecemberImmaculate ConceptionImaculada ConceiçãoAccording to Roman Catholic Dogma, the conception of the Virgin Mary without any stain of original sin.☑☑
25 DecemberChristmas DayNatal☑☑
26 December 1st Octave Primeria Oitava Only celebrated in Madeira. – Primeira Oitava is part of Madeira's centuries old Christmas celebrations which has been recognized as public holiday[1] by the Regional Government of Madeira, celebrating the second day of the week leading up to New Year's Day. ☑
Total holidays1615

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

According to a Decree of October 12, 1910, gave municipalities the possibility of choosing a day that would represent their traditional festivals.[2]

DateEnglish namePortuguese nameNotes
15 January Municipal Holiday Dia do Concelho Celebrated in Santa Cruz.
22 January Municipal Holiday Dia do Concelho Celebrated in São Vicente.
19 MarchSt. Joseph's DayDia de São JoséCelebrated in Santarém.
11 April Municipal Holiday Dia do Concelho Celebrated in Lagoa. The date was chosen because the locality was made town by Royal Charter of April 11, 1522.
23 April Saint Goerge's Day Dia dde São Jorge. Celebrated in Velas. The date was chosen due to the fact the this locality celebrates Saint George's Day since 1460[3].
moveableEaster MondaySegunda-feira de PáscoaCelebrated in Avis, Borba, Caminha, Campo Maior, Cuba, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Ílhavo, Mação, Mora, Penamacor, Ponte de Sor, Portel, Redondo, Castelo de Vide, Constância, Crato, Nisa and Sousel. 2 April in 2018.
moveableAscension of JesusQuinta-feira da AscensãoCelebrated in Alcanena, Alenquer, Almeirim, Alter do Chão, Alvito, Anadia, Ansião, Arraiolos, Arruda dos Vinhos, Azambuja, Beja, Benavente, Cartaxo, Chamusca, Estremoz, Golegã, Loulé, Mafra, Marinha Grande, Mealhada, Melgaço, Monchique, Mortágua, Oliveira do Bairro, Quarteira, Salvaterra de Magos, Santa Comba Dão, Sobral de Monte Agraço, Torres Novas, Vidigueira and Vila Franca de Xira.
Fifth Sunday after Easter (moveable) Municipal Holiday Dia do Concelho Celebrated in Ponta Delgada[3].
25 May Municipal Holiday Dia do Concelho Celebrated in Santana. The date was chosen because it is anniversary of the date of elevation the village and seat of county in the year 1835.
13 JuneSt. Anthony's DayDia de Santo AntónioCelebrated 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).
20 June Municipal Holiday Dia do Concelho Celebrated in Corvo. The date was chosen because it is the anniversary of the town.[3]
24 JuneSt. John's DayDia de São JoãoCelebrated in Porto, Braga, Figueira da Foz, Almada, Calheta, Porto Santo, Angra do Heroísmo, Horta, Santa Cruz da Graciosa, Santa Cruz das Flores, Vila do Porto and Vila Franca do Campo (as a Municipal Holiday)[4].

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 JuneSt. Peter's DayDia de São PedroCelebrated 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 JulySt. Elizabeth's DayDia de Santa IsabelCelebrated in Coimbra
Third Monday of July (moveable) Municipal Holiday Dia do Concelho Celebrated in Lajes das Flores.
18 July Municipal Holiday Dia do Concelho Celebrated in Nordeste. This date was chosen because the locality was made town by Royal Charter of July 18, 1514.
22 July Municipal Holiday Dia do Concelho Celebrated in Porto Moniz and Madalena.
11 August Municipal Holiday Dia do Concelho Celebrated in Praia da Vitória. The date was chosen because it is the anniversary of the battle (August 11, 1829) that prevented the royalists from reaching land during the Portuguese Civil War.
16 August Municipal Holiday Dia do Concelho Celebrated in São Roque do Pico[3].
21 August Funchal City Day Dia da Cidade do Funchal Celebrated in Funchal. Anniversary of the date in which, in 1508, and by Royal Charter, the town of Funchal was elevated to the category of city[4].
8 SeptemberNativity of MaryNatividade de Nossa SenhoraCelebrated in Lagoa, Alcoutim, Ponta do Sol, Lamego, Mangualde, Marco de Canaveses, Marvão, Montemor-o-Velho, Murtosa, Nazaré, Odemira, Ourique and Sabrosa.
21 SeptemberSt. Matthew's DayDia de São MateusCelebrated in Viseu, and Elvas
Monday after the first the Sunday of September (moveable) Municipal Holiday Dia do Concelho Celebrated in Povoação[3].
4 October Municipal Holiday Dia do Concelho Celebrate in Câmara de Lobos. The date was chosen because on on October 4, 1835 took place the first electoral act, the swearing-in ceremony and inauguration of the first mayor of Câmara de Lobos and his respective council[5].
9 October Municipal Holiday Dia do Concelho Celebrated in Machico. This is date on which the annual pilgrimage to the Lord of Miracles takes place, and the anniversary of the date in 1803 of which the most severe natural calamity that occurred on the island of Madeira since its settlement: an alluvium which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people.[4]
25 November Saint Catherine's Day Dia de Santa Catarina Celebrated in Calheta. The date was chosen because since times immemorial it is on this day that this locality celebrates the Feast of Saint Catherine[3].

References

  1. ↑ "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.
  2. ↑ Coelho, Pedro (October 9, 2018). "Comemorações - Dia do Conselho". Câmara Municipal de Câmara de Lobos. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Feriados na Região Autónoma dos Açores | Calendários". Calendários (in Portuguese). 2016-05-07. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  4. 1 2 3 "Feriados na Região Autónoma da Madeira | Calendários". Calendários (in Portuguese). 2016-05-06. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  5. ↑ "Câmara de Lobos aprova alteração do Dia do Concelho". www.dnoticias.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2018-10-09.

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