Dia de Portugal

O tema esta semana é Dia de Portugal - The theme this week is Portugal Day.

Did you know?  - Sabias?  The 10th of June is big public holiday here in Portugal.  It’s Portugal Day - Camões Day and Day of Portuguese Communities abroad .  Every year a different city is chosen to host the official celebrations, and this year (2026) they will be held on the island of Terceira (nos Açores) and also in Luxemburg, where one of the biggest Portuguese communities is outside of Portugal.  You can read about it here in this news article.  (and listen – click on the speaker)

feriado - public holiday
os desfiles - the parades
bandeiras - flags
discurso - speech
fogo de artifício - fireworks
orgulho nacional - national pride
um dia alegre - a happy day
a língua portuguesa - the portuguese language
fora do país - out of the country
atividades culturais - cultural activities 

Here’s a link to a Quizlet set with the words for you to play about with. 

If you would like to join one of the weekly chat groups - we run two weekly - A0/A1 Weds 13h-13h30, A2/B1 - Thurs 13h-13h45, all details are in the weekly newsletter - sign up here.

AND because we learn really well from stories and seeing examples of correct language, every week I put together 3 stories or dialogues on the week’s theme with examples of the week’s words and phrases in a useful context. I strongly believe that we can learn a lot from reading, these mini-texts with translations are just the right length for you to digest easily. (look at the translations first if that helps!)

A0 / A1 – O Dia de Portugal

O Dia de Portugal é a 10 de junho. É um feriado nacional. Neste dia, não há escola nem trabalho. As pessoas veem desfiles e bandeiras. Este dia celebra o país e a cultura portuguesa. Também lembra Luís de Camões, um poeta famoso. Camões escreveu “Os Lusíadas”. Muitas cidades fazem festas e concertos. É um dia alegre para todos os portugueses.

A2 – 10 de Junho em Portugal

O dia 10 de junho é o Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas. É feriado nacional. Celebra-se a língua portuguesa, a história e os portugueses que vivem fora do país. Luís de Camões, autor de “Os Lusíadas”, morreu neste dia. Todos os anos há cerimónias oficiais com discursos do Presidente da República. Há desfiles militares e atividades culturais em diferentes cidades. À noite, há fogo de artifício. É um dia de orgulho nacional.

B1+ – O Significado do 10 de Junho

O 10 de junho é uma data muito simbólica para os portugueses. Celebra-se o Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas. Comemora-se não só o país e a cultura, mas também os milhões de portugueses que vivem no estrangeiro. O dia foi escolhido por ser a data da morte de Luís de Camões, símbolo da língua e identidade nacionais. Todos os anos, as celebrações oficiais decorrem numa cidade diferente e contam com a presença do Presidente da República. Além dos desfiles e discursos, há também eventos culturais e homenagens a portugueses ilustres. É um dia que reforça a ligação entre Portugal e os seus cidadãos, estejam onde estiverem

Translations of the stories:

A0 / A1– Portugal Day

Portugal Day is on 10 June. It is a national holiday. On this day, there is no school or work. People watch parades and see flags. This day celebrates the country and Portuguese culture. It also remembers Luís de Camões, a famous poet. Camões wrote “The Lusiads”. Many cities have parties and concerts. It is a happy day for all Portuguese people.

A2 – 10th of June in Portugal

The 10th of June is Portugal Day, Camões Day, and the Day of the Portuguese Communities. It is a national holiday. It celebrates the Portuguese language, history, and the people who live abroad. Luís de Camões, author of “The Lusiads”, died on this day. Every year, there are official ceremonies with speeches by the President of the Republic. There are military parades and cultural activities in different cities. At night, there are fireworks. It is a day of national pride.

B1+ – The Meaning of 10th of June

The 10th of June is a highly symbolic date for the Portuguese. It is Portugal Day, Camões Day and the Day of the Portuguese Communities. It celebrates not only the country and its culture, but also the millions of Portuguese who live abroad. The date was chosen because it marks the death of Luís de Camões, a symbol of the national language and identity. Each year, the official celebrations are held in a different city and include the President of the Republic. Besides parades and speeches, there are cultural events and tributes to notable Portuguese citizens. It is a day that strengthens the connection between Portugal and its people, wherever they may be.