National holidays

National Festivities 2015

Months of the Year with Holidays

From Portugal“The Heritage of Cultures and Traditions in Pluralistic Society - Religious Tradition”

Santiago de Compostela - SpainSantiago de Compostela - Spain IV Comenius Meeting 16th – 19th October 2014Santiago de Compostela - SpainSantiago de Compostela - Spain IV Comenius Meeting 16th – 19th October 2014

JANUARY 2015

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Happy New Year Happy New Year

New Year’s Day is celebrated on the 1st January.This day marks the beginning of a new year and it is a holiday celebrated all over the world.It is also a day to rest after the long night of celebration of New Year’s Eve, on the 31st December.

APRIL 2015


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3th Good Friday

3th Good Friday

25th Liberty Day

25th Liberty Day

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Easter 5th

Easter

Good Friday is a religious holiday observed by Chritians on the last Friday before Easter Sunday. On this day, people remember the Judgement, Crucifixion and Death of Jesus Christ through several religious rituals.

Easter is the religious celebration of the Ressurection of Jesus Christ. Christians celebrate the Ressurrection on Easter Sunday.

A Páscoa é uma celebração religiosa que

25th April 74 / The Carnation Revolution– Celebrates the day when a group of Captains from the Armed Forces overthrew the dictatorial regime of “Estado Novo”. This military coup established the basis for the birth of a democratic regime in Portugal.

MAY 2015


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Labour DayLabour Day

Labour Day or International Worker’s Day is celebrated worldwide on the 1st of May. During this day, Trade Unions organize street demonstrations and street marches.

JUNE 2015


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Camões Day –Portugal DayCamões Day –Portugal Day

Portugal Day- On the 10th June Portugal celebrates the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities. This holiday also commemorates the death of the poet Luíz Vaz de Camões, author of the national epic poem Os Lusíadas, in 1580.

AUGUST 2015


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Assumption of MaryAssumption of Mary

Assumption of Virgin Mary- This is a religious holiday celebrated on the 15th August and seen by the Catholic Church as a major feast day. In many villages and towns it is celebrated with religious services and pilgrimages.

DECEMBER 2015


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8th Immaculate Conception

8th Immaculate Conception

25th Christmas

25th Christmas

On the 8th December Immaculate Conception (Portugal’s Patron Saint) is celebrated.This day is of great significance for the Catholic Church and it was defined as a festivity in 1476, by Pope Sixtus IV. In 1854, Pope Pius IX defined it as a dogma for the Catholic Church.Traditionally it is also the day when families decorate their Christmas Trees.

Christmas is one of the most important holidays in the Portuguese calendar. People celebrate the birth of Jesus.

On Christmas Eve, families gather for Christmas Dinner.There are very special Christmas dishes like codfish, French toast, “Pão de Ló”, King Cake, and many others.

At midnight there is the traditional Midnight Mass. Some families attend the mass which celebrates the birth of Jesus. After midnight, children open their presents, sitting near the Christmas Tree. Some families only open their presents the next day, on Christmas Day.

01 Jan - New Year03 Apr – Good Friday05 Apr - Easter25 Apr - Liberty Day (25th of April)01 May – Labour Day10 Jun - Portugal Day15 Aug - The Assumption of Mary 08 Dec - Immaculate Conception25 Dec - Christmas

Education

National holidays