Public holidays in Portugal
In Portugal, a public holiday is a calendar date, legally recognised and defined in the Labour Code as well as the Concordat of 2004, on which most businesses and non-essential services are closed. On some of these dates, public commemorative festivities are traditionally held.
Public holidays in Portugal are a mixture of select religious observances and days that have national historical or cultural significance. These dates have changed over time: currently, there are 13 mandatory holidays and one optional that has to be specifically designated as a day off work each year by government decree. Specific dates may alternatively be observed only at region or municipal level.
Public holidays in Portugal
Revoked holidays in 2013–2015
In 2012, the Coalition government of Pedro Passos Coelho controversially revoked four holidays – two civilian holidays and two religious ones. The move was effective from 2013 onwards and was presented as a measure to increase productivity, in the context of the 2011–2014 Troika bailout to Portugal. Public debate and re-evaluation were scheduled in 2018 for the religious holidays.The four holidays were eventually restored by the government of António Costa, in January 2016.
Local holidays
According to a Decree of 12 October 1910, municipalities were given the possibility of choosing a day that would represent their traditional festivals.Date | English name | Portuguese name | Notes |
15 January | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated in Santa Cruz. |
22 January | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated in São Vicente. |
18 February | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated in Valença. |
19 March | St. Joseph's Day | Dia de São José | Celebrated in Santarém. |
11 April | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated in Lagoa. The date was chosen because the locality was made town by Royal Charter of 11 April 1522. |
23 April | Saint George's Day | Dia de São Jorge. | Celebrated in Velas. The date was chosen due to the fact that this locality celebrates Saint George's Day since 1460. |
moveable | Easter Monday | Segunda-feira de Páscoa | Celebrated in Avis, Borba, Caminha, Campo Maior, Cuba, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Ílhavo, Mação, Mora, Penamacor, Ponte de Sor, Portel, Redondo, Castelo de Vide, Constância, Crato, Nisa and Sousel. in. |
moveable | Ascension of Jesus | Quinta-feira da Ascensão | Celebrated in Alcanena, Alenquer, Almeirim, Alter do Chão, Alvito, Anadia, Ansião, Arraiolos, Arruda dos Vinhos, Azambuja, Beja, Benavente, Cartaxo, Chamusca, Estremoz, Golegã, Loulé, Mafra, Marinha Grande, Mealhada, Melgaço, Monchique, Mortágua, Oliveira do Bairro, Quarteira, Salvaterra de Magos, Santa Comba Dão, Sobral de Monte Agraço, Torres Novas, Vidigueira and Vila Franca de Xira. |
Fifth Sunday after Easter | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated in Ponta Delgada. |
25 May | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated in Santana. The date was chosen because it is anniversary of the date of elevation the village and seat of county in the year 1835. |
13 June | St. Anthony's Day | Dia de Santo António | Celebrated in Lisbon where on the Avenida da Liberdade, there are the Marchas'', a parade of folklore and costumes from the city's different traditional quarters, with hundreds of singers and dancers and a vast audience applauding their favorite participants. As St Anthony is the matchmaker saint, it is still the tradition in Lisbon to celebrate multiple marriages. |
20 June | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated in Corvo. The date was chosen because it is the anniversary of the town. |
24 June | St. John's Day | Dia de São João | Celebrated in Porto, Braga, Figueira da Foz, Almada, Calheta, Porto Santo, Angra do Heroísmo, Horta, Santa Cruz da Graciosa, Santa Cruz das Flores, Vila do Porto and Vila Franca do Campo. Porto and Braga celebrate with a big festival and fireworks over the River Douro and down Avenida da Liberdade. Across the country a traditional midsummer bonfire is also built and following an ancient pagan tradition, revelers try to jump over the bonfire, this in order to gain protection during the rest of the year. |
29 June | St. Peter's Day | Dia de São Pedro | Celebrated in Alfândega da Fé, Bombarral, Castro Daire, Castro Verde, Évora, Felgueiras, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Montijo, Penedono, Porto de Mós, Póvoa de Varzim, Ribeira Brava, Ribeira Grande, São Pedro do Sul, Seixal and Sintra. Just like St. Anthony's Day and St. John's Day, St. Peter's Day is celebrated with a traditional midsummer bonfire, where people jumps over and perform a tradition known as "Queimar a Alcachofra" which symbolizes the "Good Which Fulfill". |
4 July | St. Elizabeth's Day | Dia de Santa Isabel | Celebrated in Coimbra |
Third Monday of July | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated in Lajes das Flores. |
18 July | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated in Nordeste. This date was chosen because the locality was made town by Royal Charter of 18 July 1514. |
22 July | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated in Porto Moniz and Madalena. |
11 August | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated in Praia da Vitória. The date was chosen because it is the anniversary of the battle that prevented the royalists from reaching land during the Portuguese Civil War. |
16 August | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated in São Roque do Pico. |
20 August | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated in Viana do Castelo. |
21 August | Funchal City Day | Dia da Cidade do Funchal | Celebrated in Funchal. Anniversary of the date in which, in 1508, and by Royal Charter, the town of Funchal was elevated to the category of city. |
8 September | Nativity of Mary | Natividade de Nossa Senhora | Celebrated in Lagoa, Alcoutim, Ponta do Sol, Lamego, Mangualde, Marco de Canaveses, Marvão, Montemor-o-Velho, Murtosa, Nazaré, Odemira, Ourique and Sabrosa. |
21 September | St. Matthew's Day | Dia de São Mateus | Celebrated in Viseu, and Elvas |
Monday after the first the Sunday of September | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated in Povoação. |
4 October | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrate in Câmara de Lobos. The date was chosen because on 4 October 1835 the first electoral act took place, the swearing-in ceremony and inauguration of the first mayor of Câmara de Lobos and his respective council. |
9 October | Municipal Holiday | Dia do Concelho | Celebrated in Machico. This is date on which the annual pilgrimage to the Lord of Miracles takes place, and the anniversary of the date in 1803 of which the most severe natural calamity that occurred on the island of Madeira since its settlement: an alluvium which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people. |
25 November | Saint Catherine's Day | Dia de Santa Catarina | Celebrated in Calheta. The date was chosen because since times immemorial it is on this day that this locality celebrates the Feast of Saint Catherine. |