Holiday Guide for Brazil in 2016

Brazil information

List of National Holidays in Brazil in 2016

	Friday January 1st  Long Weekend!  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 8th  Long Weekend!  Carnival Brazil: The streets of Rio de Janeiro erupt with colour and noise as Carnival ushers in the Easter period.
	Tuesday February 9th 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 10th Ash Wednesday Brazil: Marks the beginning of lent. Marking the forehead with ash represents regret for past sins.
	Friday March 25th  Long Weekend!  Good Friday Brazil: Good Friday occurs on the Friday before Easter. The day commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus.
	Thursday 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.
	Sunday May 1st Labour Day Brazil: This holiday is most commonly associated as a commemoration of the achievements of the labour movement
	Thursday May 26th Corpus Christi Brazil: The Feast of Corpus Christi is a Catholic festival celebrated on the second Thursday after Whitsun
	Saturday July 9th State Rebellion Day São Paulo: São Paulo only. Anniversary of the Constitutional Revolution of 1932
	Thursday August 4th Public Holiday Rio de Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro only. For Olympic torch relay
	Friday August 5th  Long Weekend!  Public Holiday Rio de Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro only. For Olympic opening ceremony
	Thursday August 18th Public Holiday Rio de Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro only. For Olympic Marathon
	Monday August 22nd  Long Weekend!  Public Holiday Rio de Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro only. For Olympic closing ceremony
	Wednesday September 7th 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
	Wednesday October 12th 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
	Wednesday November 2nd All Souls' Day Brazil: Dedicated to the remembrance of the departed. All Souls' Day follows All Saints' Day.
	Tuesday 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
	Sunday November 20th Black Awareness Day Rio de Janeiro, 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.
	Sunday December 25th 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.