Information Sheet Last Updated: June 2004
Holidays and Festivals
The following lists contain approximations or exact days which some holidays and festivals fall on. This list is not comprehensive, but it does get many of the major ones. It is common for businesses to close for holidays so make your plans accordingly.
Festivals:
The major festival is Carnaval, which is held three days up to and including Ash Wednesday and is celebrated all over Brazil.
January:
Lavagem do Bomfim.
Held in Bahia and one of he more interesting festivals.
February:
Presente para lemanjá
Held in Bahia.
Festa Nacional da Uva
A grape and wine festival and is held in Caxis do Sul.
March/April:
Brazilian Grand Prix
Held in São Palo.
Semana Santa
Ends on Easter Sunday and is celebrated with parades in many cities and town.
May:
Festa do Divino Espírito Santo.
Elebrated throughout Brazil. The parades in Pirenópolis are especially interesting.
June:
Festas Juninhas.
Festivals held throughout June and throughout the country.
Bumba-meu-boi.
Festival is held throughout June and in Maranhão.
Festa do Boi. End of June
Held in Parantins.
August:
Festa da Boa Morte
Held in Bahia.
Festa do Peão Boiadeiro in Barretos.
Held in São Palo.
October:
Oktoberfest
Held in Blumenau while the Círio de Nazaré festival takes place in Belém.
December 31:
Reveillon.
End of the festival year and festivities are held on beaches for the most part.
National Holidays
January 1: New Year
April 21: Tiradentes
May 1: Labor Day
June: Corput Christi
September 7: Independence Day
October 12: Nossa Senhora Aparecida
November 2: All Souls’ Day
November 15: Proclamation of the Republic
December 25: Christmas