Celebrated on June 10th the Dia de Portugal commemorates the death of Luís de Camões in 1580, Portugal’s biggest poet and a key figure in the Portuguese culture and identity. Officially called Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas (Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities), this national holiday honours Portuguese history, culture, and the global Portuguese diaspora.
The day is marked by various traditional celebrations and official ceremonies, led by the President of Portugal, typically include a military parade, speeches, and cultural performances, often hosted in different cities each year to showcase regional diversity. This year’s celebrations will occur over different locations starting on the 9th of June, in Figueiró dos Vinhos and Castanheira de Pera, where tribute to the victims of the 2017 Forest Fires will be presented, and will continue on the 10th of June in Pedrogão Grande, with the traditional Military Ceremony. During the afternoon the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister will be in Coimbra for the celebrations of Camões’s 500th birthday, and the 11th of June marks the trip of the President and the Prime Minister to Switzerland to continue the celebrations and pay homage to the Portuguese community.
Portuguese communities worldwide participate in local festivities, featuring traditional music, dance and cuisine, nurturing national pride and cultural continuity among expatriates. Portugal Day is celebrated to honour the nation’s cultural heritage and historical achievements and it is a day for Portuguese people to reflect on their identity and celebrate their history. The inclusion of das Comunidades Portuguesas (the Portuguese Communities) in the holiday’s name emphasizes the importance of the Portuguese migration and their contributions around the world. Portugal Day promotes unity and solidarity among Portuguese people worldwide.
