In honour of Portugal Day (or DIa de Camões) we’ve written an in-depth article on the history of this public holiday, as well as some suggestions for how you can celebrate like a true local on 10th June!
The Origin of Portugal Day
The date, June 10th, is a public holiday that commemorates Portugal’s national poet Luís de Camões (1524-1580), who wrote Os Lusíadas. Considered one of the greatest poems ever written in Portuguese, it tells the story of Vasco da Gama’s arrival at Calicut on May 20th 1498. Fun fact: the 10th June was in fact the day Luis de Camões died, as his date of birth is unknown.
The Importance of Portugal Day
For the reasons explained above, the 10th June is a day of great cultural importance in Portuguese history. Over the course of the day, citizens can celebrate Portuguese pride together, which further reinforces the country’s strong national identity. The theme is always Portugal but you can choose how you spend your time; it’s a day for families and for friends. So here are some options…
The Festivities
A great way to celebrate and immerse yourself in Portuguese culture is to get take part in one of the many street parties that take place all over cities and towns in Portugal – for more information about these, you should keep up to date with what is going on where you live, for example by joining community facebook groups.
If street parades aren’t for you but you have a garden or balcony, make sure to take a look outside at the magnificent firework displays, or to watch the parades and pageants that travel around the town. Here’s a little hint: the best parades and fireworks usually take place in the larger cities, such as Lisbon, Porto and Faro, so head here for an unforgettable experience!
If nothing else, you can always celebrate Portuguese culture by enjoying some of their delicious cuisine. After all, there’s no better day to try it than Portugal Day!
Remember that on days like June 10th, there may be shop closures to allow everyone to get involved with the festivities so make sure you have everything that you need before the day.
Has hearing about Portugal Day made you eager to visit? If you need any advice or information on the process of moving to Portugal, contact us at RHJ Law to speak with one of our experts.
