June 12 – Dia dos Namorados

Posted on June 12, 2016

If I told you that “Dia dos Namorados” in Portuguese for “Lovers' Day,” would you have a guess about where this holiday is celebrated?

Not in Portugal, actually. Today is Saint Anthony (of Padua)'s Day Eve in Portugal, a religious holiday before tomorrow's religious holiday (Saint Anthony's Day itself).

No, Dia dos Namorados is celebrated today in Brazil!

Brazil is the largest Portuguese-speaking country in the world, because this South American country was a colony of Portugal. Today romantic couples give each other gifts such as chocolates and flowers, cards and poetry. They often do romantic activities such as go dancing or out to dinner. They might decorate the home with hearts and flowers. And communities often host festivities such as parades, carnivals, dances, and folk music celebrations.

In other words, today is the Brazilian equivalent of Valentine's Day!

Interestingly enough, many Portuguese-speaking nations in Africa use the term “Dia dos Namorados” for February 14 (Valentine's Day). But that is about the time that Brazil is having huge street parties, night after night, in their famous Carnival...so it's no wonder that they don't want to clutter the calendar with another sort of holiday.