Public Holidays

New Year’s Day - Ano Novo – The New Year marks the traditional end of Christmas Week and celebrates the start of the new Gregorian calendar year. Rio typically rests on New Year's Day as it has celebrated New Year’s Eve (Festa de Iemanjá or Réveillon) with tremendous revelry, including energetic music and unbelievable fireworks on the beach.

Carnival and Ash Wednesday - Carnaval e Quarta-feira de Cinzas – Brazil and Rio in particular are known worldwide for this most festive season – Carnival! It generally includes the five days leading up to "Fat" Tuesday or Mardi Gras. The festival closes with Ash Wednesday at 12:00 noon which starts the season of Lent in the Christian calendar.

Tiradentes’ Day - Tiradentes – This holiday commemorates José Joaquim da Silva Xavier (1748 -1792), better known by his profession as Tiradentes (the tooth puller). He led the 1789 Minas Gerais conspiracy which was a precursor of Brazilian independence and remains a national hero of Brazil.

Good Friday - Sexta-feira Santa –This generally somber day recognizes the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ and is part of Holy Week celebrations.

Easter - Pascoa – This holiday celebrates the Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus. For many Brazilians, today marks a traditional day of gathering with family. Brazil is predominantly Catholic, so you will find that Easter and the preceding Holy Week is marked with observance of religious traditions associated with the faith -- culminating with this joyous holiday.

 Labor Day - Dia do Trabalho – A national holiday celebrating the achievements of the labor movement and workers throughout Brazil. The day is typically marked with union rallies and celebratory marches.

Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi – This commemoration was originally introduced to Brazil by the Portuguese. Its purpose is to honor the Eucharist, the "Body of Christ."  At the conclusion of mass, it is traditional in many parts of Brazil to have a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Independence Day - Dia da Independência – The Independence Day of Brazil, commonly called Sete de Setembro, (7th of September) is a national holiday observed on September 7th of every year. The date celebrates Brazil's Declaration of Independence from Portugal on September 7, 1822 and is proudly celebrated with patriotic displays in most Brazilian cities.

Our Lady of Aparecida - Nossa Senhora de Aparecida – Commemorates the Virgin Mary as Nossa Senhora da Conceicao Aparecida, Patron Saint of Brazil. Our Lady of Aparecida is represented by a short, clay statue, currently housed in the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, near São Paulo. The feast day has been observed as a public holiday since Pope John Paul II consecrated the Basilica in 1980. This date is also celebrated as Children’s Day (Dia das Criancas).

Civil Servant's Day - Dia do Servidor Público – This holiday recognizes the contributions and importance of public servants. Brazil wanted to acknowledge that the well-being of its citizens depended on the quality of the work performed by public servants in hospitals, schools and administrative offices.

All Souls Day - Dia de Finados – One of the many religious holidays celebrated in Brazil, the "Day of the Dead," commemorates the faithful departed of the Christian tradition.

Proclamation of the Republic Day - Proclamacao da Republica – This holiday marks the date of the "proclamation of Brazil as a Republic" on November 15, 1889. The people of Brazil celebrate this episode in history when a non violent coup d'état in Rio ended the reign of Dom Pedro II and its monarchial empire. The creation of the Republic promised more freedoms for all of Brazil's citizens.

Christmas Day - Natal – Christmas is an important secular and religious holiday in Brazil, celebrating the Nativity of Jesus Christ.  A highlight of Christmas celebrations in Brazil is the making of huge Christmas "trees" of electric lights.  These "electric trees" can be seen against the night skies in Rio de Janeiro throughout the holiday season. A special sight is the huge tree that floats in the Lagoa. 

Epiphany - Epifania – The Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day is the climax of the Advent/Christmas Season and the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Saint Sebastian's Day - Dia de São Sebastião  - Rio de Janeiro was founded by the Portuguese and was named São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro. This holiday (observed only in city of Rio) honors its patron, St. Sebastian and its namesake, King Sebastian of Portugal. King Sebastian was reigning at the time of the city's founding and is born on the same date of the saint.

Saint Joseph’s Day - Dia de São José – Saint Joseph's Day has been the principal feast day of Saint Joseph (the earthly father of Jesus) in Western Christianity since the tenth century and remains popular in Brazil.

Day of the Indian - Dia do Indio – Every year, Rio de Janeiro joins all of Brazil to celebrate the rich cultural heritage that stems from the indigenous peoples of Brazil. It is estimated that at the time of European colonization of Brazil, there existed over 2000 Indian nations or tribes - many Indians died during this period, but many have also assimilated into Brazilian society.

St. George’s Day - Dia de São Jorge – Rio de Janeiro's devotion to Saint George was passed on to Brazil by the Portuguese. Saint George is the patron saint of Portugal and his popularity compares favorably with the city's official patron Saint Sebastian. 

Mother’s Day - Dia das Mães – Every second Sunday of May is celebrated as Mother's Day in Brazil.

Day of the Enamored  ("Valentine's Day") - Dia dos Namorados – In the Northern Hemisphere, romance and affection is attributed to Saint Valentine, but in Brazil, that honor goes to Saint Anthony.  St. Anthony is the patron saint of Lisbon, Portugal, as well as of lovers and newlyweds. The eve before his feast day is when Brazilians express their love and extol the virtues of romance.

Saint John the Baptist – Festa de São João – This holiday also known as Festa Junina (June Festival), is part of the annual Brazilian celebrations historically related to European Midsummer which takes place in the beginning of the Brazilian winter.

Father’s Day – Dia dos Pais – The Brazilian observation of Father's Day is celebrated every second Sunday in August.

Soldier's Day - Dia do Soldado – The Soldier’s Day holiday was introduced to honor a Brazilian military hero, Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, the Duke of Caxias. Known as an extraordinary Brazilian military leader and statesman, the holiday commemorates his birth on August 25.

Halloween – Dia das Bruxas – Although Halloween is not an official Brazil holiday, it is increasingly being celebrated in some larger cities, with costume parties, along with the traditional "trick-or-treat" custom of providing candy to children.

Black Awareness Day - Dia da Consciência Negra – A day set aside in Brazil to reflect upon the injustices of slavery and to celebrate the contributions to society and to the nation made by Brazilian citizens of African descent.

New Year's Eve - Réveillon  – The New Year's Eve party  in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is growing in such popularity as to rival Carnival!  It is billed as the largest party of its kind in the world, drawing more than one million people to the streets and sands of Copacabana Beach. Lazer light shows, all night music on the beach and a wild fireworks display at midnight are just some of the components of this thrilling party to welcome the new year.

Photo Credits: (Not Affiliated with MyDestination.com)
Carnival - sfmission (CC)
Our Lady of Aparecida - courtesy of Tradition in Action
Civil Servants - Hyldek (CC)
Day of the Indian - Lecen (CC)
Halloween - Toby Ord (CC)