Portugal Freedom Day

Portugal Freedom Day Quick Facts

AKA Name:	Carnation Revolution, Dia da Liberdade
Hashtags:	#PortugalFreedomDay
2020 Date:	25 April 2020
2021 Date:	25 April 2021

2020 Holidays & Dates

		EU Country Common Holidays
		EU Country National Holidays

Portugal Freedom Day in 2020

Portugal Freedom Day History

Freedom Day in Portugal commemorates the 1974 Carnation Revolution that officially ended almost five decades of dictatorship in Portugal, the longest dictatorship in Europe. Between 1932 and 1974, dictators Antonio de Oliveira Salazar and Marcelo Caetano ruled Portugal until the Carnation Revolution. The revolution gave rise to democracy in the nation, a government type which it continues to enjoy today. The day also commemorates the four people who were killed during the collapsing regime’s secret police.

Portugal’s Freedom Day is celebrated on 25 April, the day that marks the start of the Lisbon revolution in 1974. Freedom Day, also known as the Carnation Revolution, is symbolised by abundant carnation flowers inside of gun barrels.

Top Tweets for Portugal Freedom Day -

🇵🇹 In 1974 Portugal held a non violent military coup known as the Carnation Revolution resulting in the end of the 48yrs of dictatorship government held by Salazar. It also meant Portuguese troops withdrew from its African colonies. #25deAbril https://t.co/tmuE9pV4LH
— Valentina ☕️ (@ValsCappuccino) April 25, 2019

Today is my favourite bank holiday in Portugal: on the 25th of April, 1974, the Portuguese military went out to the streets and toppled four decades of Fascist dictatorship. Firing no shots, they instead put carnations at the end of their guns, hence the Carnation Revolution. 1/6 https://t.co/W2SiH2xWvS
— WG Saraband 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇵🇹 (@wgsaraband) April 25, 2019

🇵🇹 Today is the 45th anniversary of Portugal's non-violent Carnation Revolution. The revolution led to the fall of the Estado Novo, the end of 48 years of authoritarian rule in Portugal. Bom #25Abril! https://t.co/pANW6xNij3
— Xavi Ruiz 🇪🇺 (@xruiztru) April 25, 2019

Portugal Freedom Day Facts & Quotes

In the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal was one of the most powerful nations in the world. It had significant wealth and status and even colonized Brazil. It was not until an earthquake in Lisbon in 1755 and French occupation during the Napoleonic wars that Portugal began to fall on hard times.
Portugal was ruled by the Portuguese monarchy before a revolution in 1910. The House of Braganza was the final family to have ruled before it was overthrown and later replaced by repressive dictatorships.
Portugal was one of the original member states of the Eurozone in 1999. It replaced its home currency, the Portuguese Escudo, with the Euro.
Prior to the revolution, dictator Antonio de Oliviera ruled over Portugal for three and half decades before passing the torch to his successor Marcelo Caetano for nearly another decade before the Carnation Revolution.
The world will not accept dictatorship or domination. – Mikhail Gorbachev, The 8th, and last leader of the Soviet Union.

Portugal Freedom Day Top Events and Things to Do

Visit the 25 de Abril Bridge (25 April Bridge). The bridge was originally built in the 1960s and named in honour of the last Portuguese monarch, but after the 1974 revolution, it was renamed to commemorate the day.
Watch a movie about Portugal and celebrate its rich and storied history. Some of our favourites are: Capitães de Abril (2000), Lisbon Story (1994), and Amália (2008).
Visit the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos in Lisbon, Portugal. It is steeped in history and was built in the 15th century. It features a grand, gothic style monastery and is considered one of Portugal’s greatest historical figures.
Learn more about dictatorship regimes in Portugal and neighbouring European countries. Try reading up on the regimes of Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, Franco, Tito, Salazar and Mussolini.
Spread awareness on social media by using the hashtag #PortugalFreedomDay, #CarnationRevolution and #DemocracyForPortugal.