June 10 – Portugal Day

Posted on June 10, 2021

 
This is an update of my post published on June 10, 2010:

Key Points

Portugal’s National Day – also known as Camoes Day – is celebrated on June 10 to honor the country’s greatest poet, a man named Luis de Camoes, who died on this day in 1580. (The date of his birth is unknown.)

Camoes’s most important work is a long epic poem he wrote about the greatness of Portugal. Called Os Lusiadas, this poem mainly concerns the 16th-Century explorations that brought fame and fortune to the country.

Camoes actually wrote the poem while he was traveling aboard a ship on an exploratory adventure of his own. When his boat was shipwrecked near Cochinchina (which we now call Vietnam), Camoes is said to have swum ashore from the wreck using just one arm so that he could hold the poem up out of the water with his other hand!

That story may not be true, but it is certain that both Camoes and the poem survived the shipwreck.

When there isn’t a global pandemic, Portuguese communities around the world celebrate the day with parades or shows.

Learn more about Portugal

Here is the National Geographic Kids write-up for Portugal.

Enjoy a travelogue of Lisbon, Portugal (the capital city), courtesy of Phillip Martin. Be sure to click the links to see more!

 

Lisbon, the capitol of Portugal

Here is a video about sightseeing spots in Portugal whether it’s lakes and waterfalls or Roman ruins and picturesque villages – Portugal’s got it!

 

The Azores are GORGEOUS island properties of Portugal.

 

Do a jigsaw puzzle of a lovely abbey in Portugal.

Fado is more than a fad

Fado is a Portuguese music genre that has been around since the 1800s. Apparently it is the Portuguese version of the blues (or even of emo), because it features mournful tunes and lyrics. It typically features one singer and one guitar, plus loads of heartfelt emotion.

Here is a very short video about Fado.

Also on this date:

  

Anniversary of the Millennium Bridge opening 

Anniversary of the first University Boat Race

Author/ illustrator Maurice Sendak’s birthday

Abolition of Slavery Day in French Guiana

Anniversary of the invention of the “outlook envelope”

Army Day in Jordan

Iced Tea Day

Birthday of award-winning actor Hattie McDaniel

Reconciliation Day in the Republic of the Congo

Ballpoint Pen Day

Plan ahead:

Check out my Pinterest boards for:

• June holidays

• June birthdays

• Historical anniversaries in June

And here are my Pinterest boards for:

• July holidays
• July birthdays
• Historical anniversaries in July