Holiday Guide for Brazil in 2015

Brazil information

List of National Holidays in Brazil in 2015

	Thursday January 1st New Year's Day Brazil: New Year's Day is a public holiday in all countries that observe the Gregorian calendar, with the exception of Israel
	Monday February 16th  Long Weekend!  Carnival Brazil: The streets of Rio de Janeiro erupt with colour and noise as Carnival ushers in the Easter period.
	Tuesday February 17th Carnival Brazil: Second day of Carnival. The streets of Rio de Janeiro erupt with colour and noise as Carnival ushers in the Easter period.
	Wednesday February 18th Ash Wednesday Brazil: Marks the beginning of lent. Marking the forehead with ash represents regret for past sins.
	Friday April 3rd  Long Weekend!  Good Friday Brazil: Good Friday occurs on the Friday before Easter. The day commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus.
	Tuesday April 21st Tiradentes Day Brazil: Tiradentes Day in Brazil is a national holiday is celebrated annually on April 21st. It commemorates the execution of Brazilian national hero Joaquim Jose da Silva Xavier on this day in 1792.
	Friday May 1st  Long Weekend!  Labour Day Brazil: This holiday is most commonly associated as a commemoration of the achievements of the labour movement
	Thursday June 4th Corpus Christi Brazil: The Feast of Corpus Christi is a Catholic festival celebrated on the second Thursday after Whitsun
	Thursday July 9th State Rebellion Day São Paulo: São Paulo only. Anniversary of the Constitutional Revolution of 1932
	Monday September 7th  Long Weekend!  Independence Day Brazil: On September 7th 1822, a declaration of independence from Portugal was made by Pedro di Alcântara, the son of the Portuguese King
	Monday October 12th  Long Weekend!  Lady of Aparecida Brazil: Known as 'Nossa Senhora de Aparecida', it honours Brazil's patron saint, the Virgin Mary Aparecida. Mary is honoured with a ten day festival in the city near São Paulo that bears her name
	Sunday November 1st All Saints' Day Brazil: Pope Boniface IV dedicated the day as a holiday to honour the Blessed Virgin Mary and all martyrs
	Monday November 2nd  Long Weekend!  All Souls' Day Brazil: Dedicated to the remembrance of the departed. All Souls' Day follows All Saints' Day.
	Sunday November 15th Republic Day Brazil: Marks the proclamation of the republic on November 15th 1889 when Brazil's second Emperor, Dom Pedro II, was removed from power
	Friday November 20th  Long Weekend!  Black Awareness Day Rio de Janeiro: Zumbi dos Palmares was a warlord in the independent kingdom of Palmares. This kingdom had been founded in the seventeenth century by slaves insurgents in the north-eastern Brazil. This day celebrates the first liberation of slaves.
	Friday November 20th  Long Weekend!  Black Awareness Day São Paulo: Zumbi dos Palmares was a warlord in the independent kingdom of Palmares. This kingdom had been founded in the seventeenth century by slaves insurgents in the north-eastern Brazil. This day celebrates the first liberation of slaves.
	Friday December 25th  Long Weekend!  Christmas Day Brazil: Christmas celebrates the Nativity of Jesus which according to tradition took place on December 25th 1 BC

Notes

• Half Day holidays are observed on Christmas Eve (December 24th) and New Year's Eve (December 31st)
• Ponto facultativos are types of holidays unique to Brazil. It is up to an employer whether they allow employees to take this day. In practice, the holidays are widely observed by the public sector and large companies.