In addition to Portugal`s national holidays, Portuguese schools (including international schools) have their own holiday periods. Some of these school holidays coincide with Portugal`s local holidays; However, this is not always the case. If you want to know more about school hours, you can also read our guide to school holidays in Portugal. It is not surprising, of course, that Portugal has its own special holiday – moments for fun, family and celebration. The rest of the Portuguese holidays change dates from year to year, but always fall on a specific day, such as Easter Sunday. Many Portuguese festivals are national, although some are only celebrated in certain regions. Unlike many other countries, holidays in Portugal are celebrated on the day they fall. So if a national holiday falls on a Sunday, it will not be taken the following Monday. In addition, there are widely celebrated Portuguese festivals, such as Carnival (Carnival) on Shrove Tuesday, which are not considered official public holidays by the state. No holidays posted? This is because you have not selected any type of holiday. Please check at least one of the boxes. In addition to religious and public holidays, the Portuguese also celebrate the following: The area of holidays in Portugal consists of a group of dates that are only celebrations of a “civil” or “religious” nature, divided into three different levels: And then there are holidays such as Corpus Christi, where celebrants can participate in a public procession, organized by their local church. Or Dia de Liberdade (Freedom Day), where you`ll see a parade filled with flags to celebrate the end of the dictatorship in 1974.

This list includes many local festivals in Portugal, but keep in mind that there are others that are not included. Therefore, check with your municipality for specific data. For holiday schedules, check the public transport timetables and pay attention to the words feriados (public holidays) or Domingos e feriados (Sundays and public holidays). Public transport usually follows Sunday timetables on public holidays. About half of the holidays in Portugal are celebrated on a certain date – for example, Dia de Liberdade (Freedom Day) is always on April 25, regardless of the day of the week. As a rule, on mandatory national and public holidays, the same facilities end as on Sundays. We are talking about schools, banks, post offices and public offices as well as many shops, supermarkets and factories. So that you don`t miss anything important, here is a list of Portuguese holidays and dates for your calendar. Here is the list and calendar of mandatory holidays in Portugal in 2019 In addition to national holidays, Portuguese schools also have their own holiday periods for children, including a 3-month summer holiday break.

Public, private and international school holidays differ and it is best to check with the respective school for their dates. An overview can be found under School holidays in Portugal. During the summer holidays, expect many Portuguese to do one of the things they love most: go to the beach. Note that in 2020 there will be 13 mandatory legal and national holidays in Portugal and an optional day: Carnival Tuesday. Many Portuguese festivals are national, although some are only celebrated in certain regions. Unlike many other countries, holidays in Portugal are celebrated on the day they fall. So if a national holiday falls on a Sunday, it will not be taken the following Monday. In addition, some Portuguese holidays are not considered official holidays, such as Carnival (Carnival) on Shrove Tuesday. Public holidays are the days on which people must be officially placed on leave by their employer. During compulsory leave, employers, companies and institutions are legally obliged to grant their employees working leave.

Alternatively, in the case of a company where some employees have to perform tasks that day, the company must pay them and pay them more than if it were a normal working day. And in the Azores and Madeira, people celebrate their own holidays on June 10 and July 1 respectively. Check out the calendar below to see who`s celebrating when. It is a well-known fact that the Portuguese love to celebrate the holidays. They also make family time a priority, and vacations are no exception. It is typical that three (maybe even four!) Generations of family members celebrate together, especially on important holidays such as Christmas and Easter. In addition to national and religious holidays, Portugal also celebrates some regional holidays. Don`t worry, you can also go shopping on holidays.

Supermarkets such as Pingo Doce or Continente and shopping centers (centros comerciais) are always open on public holidays. Most restaurants and major retailers in urban areas will also be open. Whether you live in Portugal or are just visiting, it is important to note the dates of the Portuguese holidays. Here is the full list of mandatory national and public holidays for 2020 in Portugal: Some Portuguese holidays are probably already familiar to you, while others you may have never heard of.