In Brazil, public holidays may be legislated at the federal, statewide and municipal levels. Most holidays are observed nationwide.[1]
Apart from the yearly official holidays (listed below),[2][3][4] the Constitution of Brazil also establishes that election days are to be considered national holidays as well. General elections are biennially held on the first Sunday of October in the first round, and on the last Sunday of October in the second round. Numerous religious and ethnic holidays are also celebrated in Brazil.
Celebrates the beginning of the year. Festivities include counting down to midnight starting from the preceding night. It also signals the traditional end of the holiday season.
Anniversary of the death of Tiradentes (1792), considered the national martyr for being part of the Inconfidência Mineira, an insurgent movement that aimed to establish an independent Brazilian republic.
Dia das Mães, the Brazilian observation of Mother's Day, is celebrated every second Sunday in May.
Corpus Christi is celebrated on the Thursday, 60 days after Easter Sunday.
Dia dos Namorados, the Brazilian equivalent of St. Valentine's Day, is observed on June 12. On this day, boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wives, exchange gifts, cards, or a flower bouquet. It is celebrated on the eve of St. Anthony of Padua's day, because, in Brazil, he is considered the patron of those who wants a loving companion.
Federal law gives each state the right to create one state holiday, and each municipality to create up to four municipal holidays. Some of the more notable ones are:
January 12: Founding of Belém, City of Belém only.