The largest country in South America and Latin America, Brazil has a population of 211,564,777 people. The country boasts lively and colorful traditions, with holidays that are celebrated in a unique, Brazilian way. Soccer is the most popular sport in Brazil, with the National Team being one of the best in the world.
As a traveler in Brazil, it would be helpful to know the different Brazil public holidays celebrated throughout the country. With strong Catholic roots, most festive holidays such as Christmas and other Christian holidays such as Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are also widely observed.
Public holidays in Brazil consist of national and religious holidays. During public holidays, most businesses are closed and employees enjoy paid leave.
| Dates | Holidays |
|---|---|
| Jan 1 | New Year’s Day |
| Feb 16 – 17 | Carnival |
| Apr 3 | Good Friday |
| Apr 21 | Tiradentes Day |
| May 1 | Labor Day |
| May 10 | Mother’s Day |
| Jun 4 | Corpus Christi |
| Aug 9 | Father’s Day |
| Sep 7 | Independence Day |
| Oct 12 | Lady of Aparecida |
| Oct 28 | Civil Servants Day |
| Nov 2 | All Souls’ Day |
| Nov 15 | Republic Day |
| Dec 25 | Christmas Day |
New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day is the first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It is celebrated worldwide on January 1st.
Carnival
The holiday is just celebrated four days before Ash Wednesday and is one of the most popular events in Brazil. It is a symbol of the last day of indulgence before the fasting period during Lent.
Good Friday
The passion and death of Jesus is one of the most important pillars of Christianity. Most people observe Good Friday before Easter.
Tiradentes Day
A national holiday in Brazil, Tiradentes Day commemorates the execution of Brazilian national hero Joaquim Jose da Silva Xavier on August 16, 1746.
Labor Day
Labor Day is celebrated in commemoration of the International Labour Movement.
Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is not a public holiday but is celebrated annually to honor mothers and their contributions to society.
Corpus Christi
The Feast of Corpus Christi is celebrated on the second Thursday after Whitsun. It means the Body of Christ, and an important element of the Eucharistic celebration.
Father’s Day
Father’s Day is also not a public holiday but is observed annually to honor fathers and their contributions to society.
Independence Day
A public holiday in Brazil, Independence Day is annually celebrated every September 7th. It’s also called ‘Dia da Independência’ and may also be known as ‘Sete de Setembro’ or ‘Dia da Pátria’ (Nation Day).
Lady of Aparecida
Celebrated every October 12th, the Lady of Aparecida or ‘Nossa Senhora de Aparecida’ honors the patron saint of Brazil, the Virgin Mary Aparecida. São Paulo holds a 10-day festival in honor of this event.
Civil Servants Day
A government holiday in Brazil, Civil Servants Day honors government workers and civil servants. On this day, government workers are on a day off.
All Souls’ Day
All Souls Day remembers those who have departed. On this day, people visit the cemetery with flowers and candles.
Republic Day
Celebrated every November 15th, this holiday remembers the day Brazil’s 2nd emperor was removed from power and the United States of Brazil was declared.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day is celebrated to honor the birth of Jesus. It is observed with gift-giving traditions and lots of festivities. This holiday is usually observed during the winter season.
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This public information website was a lifesaver for planning our family holiday. It provided timely and useful information that helped us make the most of our trip. Thank you!
By Ava King (Sep, 2022) |