Holidays in Portugal
| Date | English name | Portuguese name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God | Solenidade de Santa Maria, Mãe de Deus | |
| mobile | Carnival | Carnival | Carnival in Portugal is an annual celebration that ends on Shrove Tuesday (called Fat Tuesday in Madeira – Terça-feira Gorda in Portuguese), the day before Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent). It is an optional holiday, although it is usually observed. 47 days before Easter Sunday. |
| mobile | Good Friday | Sexta-feira Santa | Friday before Easter Sunday |
| mobile | Easter | Domingo de Páscoa | Sunday, the date varies. |
| 25 april | Freedom Day | Dia da Liberdade | Celebrate the 1974 coup d’état that ended the dictatorship and introduced democracy. |
| 1 May | Labour Day | Dia do Trabalhador | Similar to Labour Day, which is celebrated all over the world. |
| mobile | Corpus Christi (Feast) | Corpo de Deus | Thursday, the date varies. 60 days after Easter Sunday. It is based on religion. |
| 1 June | Azores Day | Dia dos Azores | Celebrated in the Azores |
| 10 June | Portugal Day | Portugal, Camões and the Day of Portuguese Communities | National Day |
| 1 July | Madeira Day | Dia da Madeira | Celebrated on Madeira Island |
| 15 August | Hypothesis | Assumption of the Virgin Mary | A religious account of Mary’s Assumption. |
| 5 October | Republic Day | Implementation of the Republic | Celebrates the end of the monarchy and the beginning of the Portuguese Republic |
| 1 November | All Saints’ Day | Dia de Todos-os-Santos | In the spirit of Christian occidental theology, the feast commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in heaven. |
| 1 December | Restoration of independence | Restoration of independence | Celebrates the end of the Philippine dynasty (1580-1640) |
| 8 December | Immaculate Conception | Immaculate Conception | According to Roman Catholic dogma, the conception of the Virgin Mary is without any stain of original sin |
| 25 December | Christmas Day | Natal | |
| Boxing Day | Boxing Day | Segunda Oitava | The “Segunda Oitava” is part of the centuries-old Christmas celebrations in Madeira, which have been recognised as a public holiday by the regional government of Madeira. |
Revoked holidays in 2013–2015
In 2012, the coalition government of Pedro Passos Coelho controversially abolished four public holidays: two civil holidays (Republic Day and the Restoration of Independence) and two religious holidays (Corpus Christi and All Saints’ Day). This measure came into effect from 2013 and was presented as a measure to increase productivity in the 2011-2014 Troika bailout programme for Portugal (although this measure was never called for in the MoU). For religious holidays, a public debate and re-evaluation was foreseen in 2018.
The four holidays were finally reinstated by António Costa’s government 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 the Marchas take place on Avenida da Liberdade, a parade of folklore and costumes from different traditional parts of the city, with hundreds of singers and dancers and a large audience applauding their favourite participants. As Saint Anthony is the holy matchmaker, it is still a tradition in Lisbon to celebrate several marriages (200 to 300). |
| 24 June | Midsummer’s Day | Dia de São João | There are celebrations in Porto, Braga, Figueira da Foz and Almada. Porto and Braga celebrate with a big party and fireworks on the Douro River (in Porto) and on the Avenida da Liberdade (in Braga). Everywhere in the country, a traditional bonfire is also lit in the middle of summer and, according to an old pagan tradition, revelers try to jump over the fire to protect themselves for 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. Like Saint Anthony’s Day and Saint John’s Day, Saint Peter’s Day is also celebrated with a traditional bonfire in the middle of summer, over which people jump and perform a tradition known as “Queimar a Alcachofra” (Burning the Artichoke), symbolising the “good that is done”. |
| 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 in Elvas |
