Portugal Day on June 10 commemorates the death of the great Portuguese poet Luís de Camões. He wrote Portugal’s epic national poem Os Lusíadas in 1572. It’s about the opening of the sea route to India by the great Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama in the 15th century (1497 – 1499).
We commemorate his death because nobody knows for sure when he was born. De Camões’ died in an important year in the history of Portugal. 1580 marked the end of Portugal as an independent nation until self rule was won back from Spain in 1640.
Portugal Day in New York City
New York City’s big Portugal Day celebration is the Portugal Day Festival and Portugal Day Parade in Newark, New Jersey.
2021
Portugal Day 2021 is Thursday, June 10.
The Portugal Day Festival is anticipated on Friday-Sunday, June 11-13, 2021.
The Portugal Day Parade is anticipated on Sunday, June 13, 2021.
2020
Most of the celebration was cancelled for the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.