When is Portugal Day?
Portugal Day, officially known as Dia de Camões, de Portugal e das Comunidades Portuguesas ('Day of Camões, Portugal, and the Portuguese Communities'), commemorates the death of Luís de Camões on June 10th 1580. It is Portugal's National Day.
History of Portugal Day
Camões wrote Os Lusíadas (The Lusiads), Portugal's national epic celebrating the country's history and achievements. While it is only officially celebrated in Portugal, Portuguese descendants across the world may also celebrate the holiday.
The Lusiads focuses on the Portuguese explorations in the 16th century, which greatly expanded the influence of Portugal. The poem is considered to be the most important piece of Portuguese literature and has become a symbol for the glory of the Portuguese nation.
Camões was a colourful character. He lost one eye fighting and was shipwrecked off the coast of present-day Vietnam. According to legend, during the shipwrecking, he kept his epic poem dry by swimming with one arm and keeping the other arm above water.
In the year that Camões died, Portugal lost its independence to Spain and began a period of rule by three generations of Spanish kings. It was over 60 years before the country regained its independence.
For such national days, it is common practice to use a date of birth to mark the national day, but since Camões' date of birth was not known, the date of his death is celebrated instead.
Portugal Day began to be celebrated in 1880, decreed by King Luís I, who announced a national festival in honour of the 300th anniversary of the death of Luís de Camões.
Official celebrations involve the President, Prime Minister and other high-ranking people. Awards/Honors are given out and there is a military exhibition.
During the rule of the Portuguese authoritarian regime up to 1974, Camões was used as a symbol for the Portuguese 'race' by the nationalists. Because of that, the June 10th celebrations were officially suspended during the Carnation Revolution in 1974, resuming as a more inclusive celebration including commemorating Portuguese communities worldwide.
In the days leading up to Portugal Day, expect public squares to brim with banners and live music. The government usually picks a different city each year, sometimes outside Portugal, to host the main event.
The president gives speeches, and there are military parades and honorary orders bestowed upon notable citizens. Schoolchildren recite poems, and libraries host special exhibitions. Locals pour into the streets, enjoying public gatherings, outdoor concerts, and – when night falls – fireworks lighting up the summer sky.
Recently it has become a custom to split the Portugal Day celebrations between a city within Portugal and a foreign city with a significant Portuguese presence (Rio de Janeiro or Paris, for example).
In the USA, there are sizeable Portuguese American communities in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, California, and Hawaii.
In Canada, the month of June is celebrated as “Portuguese Heritage Month” to honor the heritage of half a million Luso-Canadians with many events showcasing the Portuguese rich history, language, and culture.
Feliz Dia de Portugal!
