Brazil Holidays

Brazil has some national public holidays plus state or municipal holidays. The following is a list of holidays celebrated in most of Brazil. Some of these are big celebrations, some are solemn affairs.

Summer (December – February)

• Immaculate Conception Day – December 8
• Christmas – December 25
• New Year’s Day – January 1
• Carnival Monday – 48 days before Easter (Feb 15, 2021 – Feb 28, 2022 – Feb 20, 2023)
• Carnival Tuesday – 47 days before Easter (Feb 16, 2021 – Mar 1, 2022 – Feb 21, 2023)

Carnival celebrations are massive in Brazil, especially in Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Olinda. Everything stops for these days and often the whole week. In Rio, huge and colorful parades take place in the Sambadrome and there are parties throughout the city.

Autumn (March – May)

• Good Friday – Friday before Easter (Apr 2, 2021 – Apr 15, 2022 – April 7, 2023)
• Tiradentes – April 21

This holiday commemorates the execution of Joaquim José da Silva Xavier – known as Tiradentes (which means tooth puller!). Tiradentes was a dentist and leader in a movement against Portugese rule. He was hanged in 1792 in Rio de Janeiro and his quartered body put on display.

• Labor Day – May 1

Winter (June – August)

• Corpus Christi – Second Thursday after Whitsun (Jun 3, 2021 – Jun 16, 2022 – Jun 8, 2023)

Spring (September – November)

• Independence Day – September 7
• Lady of Aparecida – October 12
• Day of the Dead – November 2

In contrast to Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations, in Brazil this is a quiet and private holiday with people honoring the dead at cemeteries and churches with candles and flowers.

• Republic Day – November 15