Most Important Holidays In Portugal

Are you planning to visit Lisbon or would you like to spend a year abroad in Portugal? Just like any other nation, Portugal is deeply connected to its roots and people have respect for their national and cultural days. Knowing about the national holidays in Lisbon will help you make more informed decisions when life is at its peak.

The most important holidays in Lisbon are public or national holidays, this means banks and government institutes will be closed on this day of the national holiday.

Let’s get started with the top national holidays in Lisbon:

New Year- 1st January

Lisbon is the main attraction to witness the great New Year’s Eve celebrations in Portugal. Welcoming the new year, locals celebrate the whole night long. Like in many other countries you will get to go out and witness the beginning of a new year with your friends, see fireworks and get to enjoy yourself.

Carnival- 16th February

This national holiday in Lisbon is closely connected to religious values and beliefs. This year, the Carnival holiday was canceled due to COVID-19. This holiday is the start of a 40-days countdown to Easter and very important to locals. It is a colorful feast which will leave you with many impressions.

Good Friday (Sexta-feira Santa)-2nd April

The exact date of the Good Day holiday might be different every year, but it is always observed on a Friday in April. Good Friday is the Friday before Easter. It follows Maundy Thursday and precedes Holy Saturday. Christians commemorate the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the cross on this day. This is an important day for catholic people.

Easter- 4th April

The Portuguese celebrate the week leading up to Easter Sunday which this year falls on the 4 April, additionally, there is a public holiday on Good Friday, 2 April. One specific Easter tradition is cleaning one’s home, a common habit across the country. In this period cleaning your house, especially in the Alentejo and the Algarve to receive the Easter visit, the “Compasso”, which symbolises the entry of Jesus Christ into the home, with the blessing of the priest who blesses the house and all who live there. To receive the “Compasso” (visit Pascal) one has to have almonds and sweets at the table, as well as liqueurs and Port wine.

Freedom Day- 25th April

This is probably one of the most important national holidays in Lisbon due to its cultural and historical values. This day commemorates the carnation’s revolution and is celebrated as a national holiday. Most of the people march down the streets of Lisbon to pay tribute to the participants of the protest. You can observe real Portuguese cultural and national values on this day.

Labour Day- 1st May

This national holiday in Lisbon is shared with many other countries. It is the day when everyone shows their appreciation and love for the hardworking labor in every field of life. This day is also known as Labor Day, Workers‘ Movement Day, International Working-Class Day, or May Day in other countries.

Corpus Christi- 3rd June

Always celebrated on a Friday, Carpus Christi is another important national holiday in Lisbon.  It is also known as the Feast of the Most Holy Body of Christ, as well as the Day of Wreaths. This jubilant festival is celebrated by Roman Catholics and other Christians to proclaim the truth of the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the actual body of Christ during Mass.

Portugal National Day- 10th June

This day commemorates the death of the great Portuguese writer, Luís Vaz de Camões as his creation hold the highest ranks in the national history of Portugal. The Lusiades, Portuguese “Os Lusíadas”, is an epic poem and a classic work of Portuguese literature, first printed in 1572. Carried by the humanist spirit of the Renaissance, the work depicts the idealised history of Portugal in verse. People are proud of this day and they celebrate this holiday with honor and love.

Saint Anthony’s Day- 13th June

This public holiday is only celebrated in Lisbon as this day is to pay tribute to a Monk who lived in Lisbon and dedicated his life to Christianity. Locals celebrate Saint Anthony, the patron saint of Lisbon. The narrow-cobbled streets of the historic neighbourhoods – Alfama, Castelo, Bica, Bairro Alto, and Madragoa – fill with music, dance, grilled sardines, wine and beer, and free fun for everyone. The arraiais, as they are locally known, are the biggest and best street parties you’ll find in Lisbon. There’s also a colourful parade along Avenida da Liberdade.

Other Iportant National Holidays in Lisbon

Apart from these few major national holidays, Lisbon is worth visiting every day of the year. Nights are always young here and daily life is full of attractions. Some other important national holidays include:

• Assumption Day- 15th August
• Republic Day- 5th October
• All Saints’ Day- 1st November
• Restoration of Independence- 1st December
• Immaculate Conception Day- 8th December
• Christmas Day- 25th December

Now you know the top national holidays and have some more reasons to why life in Lisbon is the perfect mix of colors and liveliness. People are dedicated to their work but they also know when and how to celebrate.