Portugal Day (10/06)

Portugal Day (port. Dia de Portugal is a — public holiday in the country, established in 1580 and celebrated on June 10. It is also known as the Day of Camões, Portugal and the Portuguese Communities (port. Dia de Camões, de Portugal e das Comunidades Portuguesas).

The date of celebration — is the day of the death of the greatest national poet Luis de Camoes (closer to the Portuguese pronunciation Luis Camoines, c. 1524 — June 10, 1580).

Camões was a man of turbulent destiny, with ups and downs, unhappy love, duels, expulsions... Camões' first literary experiments date back to his student years, and they already showed a love for folk art — legends, fairy tales, proverbs, songs and romances.

The young man’s heartfelt hobby led to a quarrel with his uncle who raised him. Luis had to leave his studies without obtaining a degree. The quarrel was followed by reconciliation, after which Camões goes to seek his fortune in Lisbon, falls in love with the Queen's maid of honor Caterina de Ataíde, seeks her reciprocity, falls into disgrace due to their relationship that has opened up to society and is expelled from the capital by decree of the king.

Upon entering military service, Camões fights bravely and loses his right eye in a fighting skirmish. Two years later, once again in Lisbon, he ends up in prison, as he wounds a high-ranking nobleman during a church procession. And, since the received pardon of the king contains an indispensable condition to go to service in India, Camões sails there on a ship... as an ordinary sailor. In this voyage, he continues the activity he began in prison and writes the first songs of the epic that later glorified him.

In India, « will take on either a sword or a pen»: participates in battles, writes poetry. Then he goes to Mecca. Finally, he finds himself in a prominent administrative position, but finds himself suspected of official misconduct... and escorted home by sea. The prisoner miraculously escapes in a shipwreck and saves the manuscript «Lusiad» (Lusiad) —, a unique creation that combines the truth of historical facts with poetic skill. Returns to India and seeks a trial, which acquits Camões.



«Lusiades» have been translated into all European languages and even several times (for example, there are 9 translations in French). V.A. Zhukovsky translated excerpts from the poem into Russian. Camões' life has inspired many poets and playwrights. Especially famous is Almeid Garrett's poem «Camoens», the last stanzas of which contain a cruel reproach to his compatriots for the bitter fate of the poet.

The ardent patriotism with which «Lusiades» are imbued has so noticeably contributed to the awakening in Portugal of a sense of national identity that his name has been inextricably linked with the concept of the honor of the nation for many centuries. This is why Portugal Day coincides with the sad date of Camões' passing.

This holiday is officially celebrated in Portugal, as well as unofficially by all Portuguese in the world. Although its celebration is not very large-scale, on this day various ceremonial events and mass cultural celebrations are organized in all major cities, including the capital Lisbon.

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