PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Don't get caught out - a list of all the national public holidays of Portugal

Public Holidays

In Portugal a Public Holiday takes place on the stated day.   It is not carried over to the next working day

New Year’s Day

1 January

The first day of the Gregorian year and commonly seen as a day for new starts and resolutions


Good Friday

A Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus at Calvary


Easter Sunday

Commemorating the resurrection of Jesus


Liberation Day

25 April

Celebrating the Carnation Revolution when a military coup in Lisbon overthrew the Estado Novo regime

The name comes from the fact that almost no shots were fired during the coup and carnations were given to soldiers when the population celebrated the end of the dictarotshiop and took to the streets


Labour Day

1 May

Celebrated since 1890 and also known as May Day this public holidays focuses on – “Workers Day of International Unity and Solidarity.”


Corpus Christi

3 June

Celebrated since  1264 the feast of Corpus Christi signifies lthe real presence of the body (corpus) of Jesus Christ


National Day

10 June

Portugal Day or officially the Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities is celebrated by the Portuguese worldwide and commemorates the death of Luis de Camões, a poet and national literary icon


Assumption of Mary

15 August

At the end of her life Mary was taken, both in body and soul, into heaven to live with her son Jesus Christ for eternity


Proclamation of the Republic

5 October

The 1910 revolution was the overthrow of the Portuguese Monarchy which had existed for centuries and its replacement by the First Portuguese Republic


Lagos Day

27 October

Each area of the Algave has its own special day and this is the one for Lagos


All Saints’ Day

1 November

A celebration to honor the memory of deceased relatives and all Saints, both known and unknown, who have entered Heaven


Restoration of Independence

1 December

Marks the reinstatement of sovereignty after Spanish rule of Portugal from 1580 and 1640


Immaculate Conception

8 December

To celebrate the belief that the Virgin Mary had been free of original sin since the moment she was conceived

Pope Pius IX issued an apostolic constitution in 1854 clarifying the importance of the Immaculate Conception, known as the Ineffabilis Deus


Christmas Day

25 December

Commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ

Also the day for opening the gifts left by Saint Nicholas (Santa) for all the well-behaved children!