Portugal Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

Insofar as he came to symbolise Portuguese nationalism, Cames perished during the succession crisis that led to Philip II of Spain assuming the throne of Portugal in 1580.

Portugal Day is the official national holiday of Portugal and is celebrated annually on June 10. In Portugal, this day is usually termed ‘Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas,’ which translates to ‘Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities.’

The purpose of this day is to commemorate the passing of Lus de Cames, who is regarded as the country’s foremost national icon. His poem, which tells the tale of Portuguese explorations in the 15th century and has since been adopted as Portugal’s national poem, is his most well-known work. Due to the uncertainty surrounding his birth date, his burial date, June 10, 1580, is celebrated as Portugal’s National Day.

The background of Portugal Day

Insofar as he came to symbolise Portuguese nationalism, Cames perished during the succession crisis that led to Philip II of Spain assuming the throne of Portugal in 1580. On December 1, 1640, however, the kingdom regained its independence when the Spanish were expelled during the Portuguese Restoration War and John of Braganca was crowned King John IV of Portugal.

The poem by Cames has become such a potent symbol of Portuguese heritage that it has been designated as the national anthem and is respected by every elected government. Cames was even used as a symbol for the Portuguese people during the 20th century’s authoritarian regime.

Since its founding in 1944 by Prime Minister António de Oliveira Salazar, Portugal Day has been celebrated every year except 1974. In that year, the celebrations were suspended by the Carnation Revolution, a military coup that deposed the autocratic Estado Novo dictatorship.

After 1974, the celebrations were expanded to include Comunidades Portuguesas, Portuguese emigrants, and their descendants living in communities across the globe.

On July 4, 2013, the official celebrations were held in the town of Elvas for the second occasion since 1997. As a reminder that it is also a day for the Portuguese community around the globe, the formal celebrations were split between Lisbon and Paris for the first time in 2016 as a reminder of this.

Although Portugal Day is predominantly celebrated as a national holiday in Portugal, it is also observed as such in a number of other countries. Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom are among them.

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PORTUGAL DAY ACTIVITIES

Visit Portugal

Travel to one of the world’s earliest civilizations and celebrate Portugal Day with the locals. The region contains some of the world’s most extraordinary antiquities, including the world’s oldest bookstore and Europe’s longest bridge.

Explore Portuguese content

Learn more about Lus de Cames and other explorers who contributed to the country’s fame and prosperity. Cames, according to legend, lost an eye in battle, composed the celebrated ‘Os Lusiadas’ while travelling, and survived a catastrophe. His accomplishments belong to a long line of celebrated Portuguese individuals.

Try some Portuguese food.

As one of the world’s greatest consumers of seafood, Portugal is renowned for its delicious seafood dishes. On Portugal Day, spice up your diet by consuming a bowl of hot Portuguese fish broth.

5 MIND-BLOWING FACTS ABOUT PORTUGAL

In 1761, Portugal was the first colonial nation to abolish slavery.

Portuguese is the official language of nine countries and the sixth most spoken language in the globe.

The Portuguese colonial dominion included 53 countries that are now independent.

The Vasco da Gama Bridge in Portugal, with its six lanes and cable-stayed structure across the Tagus River north of Lisbon, is the longest bridge in Europe.

Portugal was a monarchy for roughly 800 years, from 1139 to 1910, making it the oldest nation in Europe.