In Portugal, a public holiday (Portuguese: feriado) is a calendar date, legally recognised and defined in the Labour Code[1][2][3][4][5] 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 (Roman Catholic) 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 (Carnival) that has to be specifically designated as a day off work (Portuguese: tolerância de ponto) each year by government decree (for public servants) or companies (for private sector). Specific dates may alternatively be observed only at region or municipal level. Collective bargaining can specify that optional holidays are observed always and are also free for agreeing other dates that the specific company or sector agrees to observe as a holiday (e.g. bank holidays).
Public holiday established by each municipality, limited to its own territory, in general to celebrate the patron saint of the municipality, or the date of the establishment of the municipal autonomy
Carnival in Portugal is an annual festival, that ends on Shrove Tuesday (called Fat Tuesday in Madeira - Terça-feira Gorda in Portuguese) the day before Ash Wednesday (first day of Lent). This is an optional holiday, although it is usually observed. 47 days before Easter Sunday.
Only celebrated in Madeira. – Primeira Oitava is part of Madeira's centuries old Christmas celebrations which has been recognized as public holiday[7] by the Regional Government of Madeira, celebrating the second day of the week leading up to New Year's Day.
Y
Total holidays
15
17
16
Revoked holidays in 2013–2015
In 2012, the XIX Constitutional Government of Portugal controversially revoked four holidays – two civilian holidays (Republic Day and Restoration of Independence) and two religious ones (Corpus Christi and All Saints Day). 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 (even though that measure was never requested by the Memorandum of Understanding). Public debate and re-evaluation were scheduled in 2018 for the religious holidays.
According to a Decree of 12 October 1910, municipalities were given the possibility of choosing a day that would represent their traditional festivals.[8]
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 (200 to 300).
16 June
Municipal Holiday
Dia do Concelho
Celebrated in Olhão. The date was chosen because it marks the start of the Olhão's revolt against the Napoleonic troops.
20 June
Municipal Holiday
Dia do Concelho
Celebrated in Corvo. The date was chosen because it is the anniversary of the town.[9]
Porto and Braga celebrate with a big festival and fireworks over the River Douro (in Porto) and down Avenida da Liberdade (in Braga). 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.
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" (Burn the Artichoke) which symbolizes the "Good Which Fulfill".
Celebrated in Loures. This date was chosen because the locality was made municipal seat on 26 July 1886, replacing Olivais as the seat of the municipality.
11 August
Municipal Holiday
Dia do Concelho
Celebrated in Praia da Vitória. The date was chosen because it is the anniversary of the battle (11 August 1829) that prevented the royalists from reaching land during the Portuguese Civil War.
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.[10][11][12]
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.[13]
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.[10]
19 November
Municipal Holiday
Dia do Concelho
Celebrated in Odivelas and Trofa. This date was chosen because both localities were made municipal seats on 19 November 1998, becoming autonomous from the municipalities of Loures and Santo Tirso, respectively.
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.[9]
