Restoration of Independence in Portugal
Portugal marks the Restoration of Independence each year on 1 December, the date of the 1640 events that ended Spanish rule and restored Portuguese sovereignty. It is a mandatory public holiday under Portuguese labour law.[1][2]
A Portuguese turning point
The holiday commemorates the events of 1 December 1640 in Lisbon. A group of Portuguese nobles entered the royal palace at Terreiro do Paço, killed Secretary of State Miguel de Vasconcelos and arrested the Duchess of Mantua, who had been entrusted with governing Portugal. The Portuguese Parliament describes the date as the Restoration of Independence after sixty years of Spanish rule.[2][3]
The conspirators supported the Duke of Bragança, who became King João IV. The events brought down the Spanish dynasty’s rule in Portugal and began the restoration of Portuguese independence. The date’s meaning is therefore tied to Portugal’s own history of sovereignty and national government.[3]
Commemorations
An official tribute at Lisbon’s Praça dos Restauradores is one documented way the anniversary is marked. The Presidency of the Republic records a ceremony there honoring the heroes of the Restoration and the War of Acclamation, promoted by the Historical Society of Portuguese Independence and Lisbon City Council.[4]
Portugal’s Restoration of Independence is a civic and historical public commemoration. Specific events depend on the organisers and location.[4]
Public holiday and practical effects
The Labour Code lists 1 December among Portugal’s mandatory public holidays. It requires activities that are not permitted to operate on Sundays to close or suspend work that day. Workplaces allowed to operate may remain open; employees working normally in such a business are entitled to compensatory rest of equal duration or an additional 100 percent of the corresponding pay, at the employer’s choice.[1]
The law fixes the holiday on 1 December. It allows certain mandatory holidays to move to the following Monday only where specific legislation provides for that arrangement.[1]
The legal rule does not mean that every shop or service closes. Check opening hours and timetables with individual schools, tourist sites and public transport services before you go. Check with your bank or shop before visiting.
Frequently asked questions
When is Restoration of Independence in Portugal?
Is it a public holiday and a day off work?
Yes. It is a mandatory public holiday. Activities not permitted to operate on Sundays must close or suspend work, while permitted businesses may operate under the Labour Code’s holiday-work rules.[1]
Do banks and shops close?
Not necessarily. The law does not require every business to close. Check with the specific bank or shop before visiting.[1]
Does the holiday move to Monday when it falls on a weekend?
The date is 1 December. The Labour Code allows certain holidays to move to the following Monday only when specific legislation provides for it.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Restoration of Independence in Portugal:
- Código do Trabalho - CT - Subsecção IX- Diário da República
- Miguel de Vasconcelos (1590-1640)- Assembleia da República
- HÁ PEÇAS NO PALÁCIO | CONSPIRAÇÃO DE 1640- Assembleia da República
- Comemorações do 1.º de Dezembro - Dia da Restauração da Independência- Presidência da República Portuguesa
- When is the branch of my bank open to the public?- Banco de Portugal