Day of Camões, Portugal, and the Portuguese Communities
10 Jun
Today, the 10th of June, is Portugal Day. I usually don’t celebrate it that much when I’m in Portugal and I don’t even remember there being any huge celebrations like for some other countries’ national days. But at least it’s a national holiday, and it kind of bummed me down that I had to work today. It triggered that “I wish I was there” feeling.
So, a little bit of history (taken directly from Wikipedia). Not that I don’t know it… but it’s just so easy to get it from there…
This day marks the date of Luís de Camões‘ death in 1580. He wrote the Lusíadas, Portugal’s national epic poem celebrating Portuguese history and achievements, more specifically the 16th century Portuguese explorations, which brought fame and fortune to Portugal. According to popular lore, Camões saved his epic poem by swimming with one arm while keeping the other arm (the one holding the book) above water.
He became a national hero and now the date of his death is the Portuguese national day. And there’s also a statue in his honor in Lisbon oldtown.
Lesson history over, off to work again now.
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