TBT: Harrison Portugal Day Celebrations
Jun 02, 2022
Update: The location of the Harrison Portugal Day Celebration is at the Centro Romeo Cascaes Portuguese American Club located at 14 North Frank E. Rodgers Blvd, Harrison.
Portugal Day is celebrated on June 10th every year all around the world. This holiday celebrates Portugal's culture and heritage and has its roots in the work of Portuguese poet Luis Camoes. Camoes was born in 1524 in Coimbra, Portugal, and is considered to be one of the greatest poets in the Portuguese language. Many call him the Father of the Portuguese language. His work is celebrated each year on Portugal Day, which commemorates the contributions of Camoes to the Portuguese language and the recording of its history. The holiday is also a time to celebrate Portuguese food, music, and dance. If you're looking to get a taste of Portugal locally, it is available courtesy of the Harrison’s Centro Romeu Cascaes Portuguese American Community Center this weekend Saturday/Sunday, June 4th and 5th, 2022. More information is available in our prior article Harrison Portugal Day 2022 Saturday/Sunday June 4th & 5th
Stage at Portugal Day
Since it is Throw Back Thursday, we are sharing photographs from prior Portugal Day celebrations by the Centro Romeu Cascaes so you can get a flavor of what to expect. The food is great, the drinks refreshing, and it is a family environment. With children running around making new friends under the watchful eye of their parents and family. The cultural program also includes a flag raising, greet and meet at Centro, traditional folkloric dancing, and music.
Portugal Day Food & Drinks Tent
In Portugal, the day is known as Dia de Camoes (Day of Camoes) and is celebrated as a public holiday. In Camoes' hometown of Coimbra, the day is marked with a parade and a ceremony at his statue in the city center. Lisbon also celebrates with a parade, as well as special events at museums and cultural institutions around the city. Outside of Portugal, many Portuguese communities celebrate Portugal Day with their festivities. In Toronto, Canada, there is an annual Portugal Day Parade that takes place on the Sunday closest to June 10th.
Volunteers from Centro Romeu Cascaes Portuguese American Community Center
In the United States, Newark NJ has the largest Portugal Day celebration outside of Portugal. The parade goes down Ferry Street in the Ironbound Section of Newark and features floats, music, and dance performances. Boston also has a large celebration, with a parade and a festival featuring Portuguese food, music, and dance. Other US cities with Portugal Day celebrations include San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami.
President of Centro Romeu Cascaes and His Wife
In Brazil, Dia de Portugal is celebrated on June 13th in the city of Sao Paulo. The day commemorates the date that Brazil and Portugal signed a treaty recognizing Brazilian independence in 1825. The day is marked with a parade, as well as special events at museums and cultural institutions around the city.
In France, Portugal Day is celebrated on June 30th in the city of Paris. The day commemorates the date that France and Portugal signed the Treaty of Paris in 1814. The day is marked with a parade, as well as special events at museums and cultural institutions around the city.
John M. Pinho, Esq. & then 2nd Ward Councilman Anselmo Millan
A Fact to Ponder
A little known but incredible fact to ponder on Portugal Day is that Portuguese sailors discovered two-thirds of the World. In addition, the Portuguese at one time controlled all maritime traffic at sea. If you were sailing cargo ships, you had to have permission from the Portuguese government.
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