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Festivals & Holidays in Portugal

EuropePortugalFestivals & Holidays in Portugal

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Holidays in Portugal

DateEnglish namePortuguese nameNotes
1 JanuarySolemnity of Mary, Mother of GodSolenidade de Santa Maria, Mãe de Deus
mobileCarnivalCarnivalCarnival 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.
mobileGood FridaySexta-feira SantaFriday before Easter Sunday
mobileEasterDomingo de PáscoaSunday, the date varies.
25 aprilFreedom DayDia da LiberdadeCelebrate the 1974 coup d’état that ended the dictatorship and introduced democracy.
1 MayLabour DayDia do TrabalhadorSimilar to Labour Day, which is celebrated all over the world.
mobileCorpus Christi (Feast)Corpo de DeusThursday, the date varies. 60 days after Easter Sunday. It is based on religion.
1 JuneAzores DayDia dos AzoresCelebrated in the Azores
10 JunePortugal DayPortugal, Camões and the Day of Portuguese CommunitiesNational Day
1 JulyMadeira DayDia da MadeiraCelebrated on Madeira Island
15 AugustHypothesisAssumption of the Virgin MaryA religious account of Mary’s Assumption.
5 OctoberRepublic DayImplementation of the RepublicCelebrates the end of the monarchy and the beginning of the Portuguese Republic
1 NovemberAll Saints’ DayDia de Todos-os-SantosIn the spirit of Christian occidental theology, the feast commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in heaven.
1 DecemberRestoration of independenceRestoration of independenceCelebrates the end of the Philippine dynasty (1580-1640)
8 DecemberImmaculate ConceptionImmaculate ConceptionAccording to Roman Catholic dogma, the conception of the Virgin Mary is without any stain of original sin
25 DecemberChristmas DayNatal
Boxing DayBoxing DaySegunda OitavaThe “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

DateEnglish namePortuguese nameNotes
19 MarchSt Joseph’s DayDia de São JoséCelebrated in Santarém
13 JuneSt. Anthony’s DayDia de Santo AntónioCelebrated 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 JuneMidsummer’s DayDia de São JoãoThere 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 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. 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 JulySt. Elizabeth’s DayDia de Santa IsabelCelebrated in Coimbra
21 SeptemberSt Matthew’s DayDia de São MateusCelebrated in Viseu, and in Elvas

How To Travel To Portugal

By planePortugal has five airports with regular international passenger traffic:Lisbon Portela Airport (IATA: LIS) is the main hub with numerous intercontinental connections to the Americas and Africa (mainly operated by the national airline TAP Portugal and its Star Alliance partners), as well as a dense network of connections in...

How To Travel Around Portugal

By trainIn Portugal, the train is generally slightly faster than the bus, but the connections are less frequent and cost more. The immediate surroundings of Lisbon and Porto are quite well served by suburban trains.Rail connections on Portugal's main line, i.e. between Braga and Faro, are good. Alfa-Pendular (fast)...

Visa & Passport Requirements for Portugal

Portugal is a member of the Schengen Agreement.There are normally no border controls between the countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. This includes most countries of the European Union and a few other countries.Before boarding an international flight or ship, there is usually an identity check. Sometimes...

Destinations in Portugal

Regions in PortugalNorthern PortugalA historic region considered the birthplace of the nation. Includes the second largest city, Porto.Central PortugalThese include Coimbra, home to one of Europe's oldest universities, and also the Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain in mainland Portugal, and most of the Extremadura coast.Lisbon RegionThe densely populated...

Weather & Climate in Portugal

Portugal is one of the hottest country in Europe. On the Portuguese continent, the average annual temperatures are around 15°C in the north and 18°C in the south. Madeira and the Azores, as might be expected, have a lower temperature range due to their island location, the former having...

Accommodation & Hotels in Portugal

The youth hostel network has a large number of hostels throughout the country . There are also many camping sites. Wild camping" (camping outside camping parks) is not allowed unless you have the landowner's permission. Holiday villas are another option to consider.The hotel offer is large and plentiful throughout...

Things To See in Portugal

Historic Cities and ArchitectureOnce a powerful colonial nation, many living Portuguese towns still have an atmosphere reminiscent of Old World times. They are full of remarkable monuments and with a little effort you will discover traditional cafés and craftsmen whose families have run their businesses for generations.Make your way...

Things To Do in Portugal

BeachesThe Portuguese beaches, almost completely surrounded by the sea, are well worth a visit. There are many activities on offer, from surfing to kite surfing, and during the summer months the most popular beaches offer activities on the sand, such as aerobics. If you're not the type to sweat...

Food & Drinks in Portugal

Food in PortugalIt is possibly the most diverse experience one can have in the country and is clearly a favourite pastime of the locals.Portuguese cuisine has evolved from a hearty peasant diet of the countryside, with seafood from the country's abundant coastline and cows, pigs and goats raised on...

Money & Shopping in Portugal

Currency, ATMs, exchangePortugal uses the euro. It is one of the many European countries that use this common currency. All euro banknotes and coins are legal tender in all countries.One euro is divided into 100 cents.The official symbol of the euro is € and its ISO code is EUR....

Traditions & Customs in Portugal

LanguageThe Portuguese feel genuine pleasure in helping tourists, so don't be ashamed to ask for help. If you make the effort to speak a little Portuguese with locals, it can help you a lot. A large percentage of the young population speaks English and many Portuguese understand basic Spanish.Although...

Language & Phrasebook in Portugal

The official language in Portugal is Portuguese (português). Portuguese is one of the main languages in the world today and ranks 6th in terms of the number of native speakers (about 240 million). It is the language with the largest number of speakers in South America, spoken by almost...

Culture Of Portugal

Portugal developed a specific culture while being influenced by different civilisations that crossed the Mediterranean and the European continent or were introduced when it played an active role in the era of discoveries. In the 1990s and 2000s (decade), Portugal modernised its public cultural institutions, in addition to the...

History Of Portugal

Ancient History: Pre-Celts and CeltsPortugal's beginnings are shared with the rest of the Iberian Peninsula in south-western Europe. The name Portugal derives from the Romano-Celtic name Portus Cale. The region was settled by the Pre-Celts, giving rise to peoples such as the Gallaecans, Lusitanians, Celts and Cytes, visited by...

Stay Safe & Healthy in Portugal

Portugal is a relatively safe country to visit and a little common sense will get you far. There are no internal conflicts, no danger from terrorism, and violent crime is not a serious problem as it is usually confined to certain neighbourhoods and rarely committed randomly.However, there are certain...

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