Portugal (Madeira) : public and bank holidays, closure of banks, stock exchanges, school vacations

Catholic : Dogma that Mary was from the first moment of conception, totally free from the stain of original sin. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

School holidays :

Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Year’s Day on Christmas Day.

Secular holiday : The world's most widely celebrated holiday, New Years was set on January 1 by Julius Caesar because that was the date the Roman consuls took over their duties. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

School holidays : Www02.madeira-edu.pt based on the calendar issued by the Ministry of Education
all study programs are aligned with the requirements of the Bologna Process
PISA ranking (average 493): 501
Schooling is mandatory till age 18
Average class size: more than 22
number of instructional hours per year in lower secondary education: 580
Number of teaching days: 175-180
Usually no school on Saturday
No uniform required
University of Lisbon ranking: Times Higher
Education #401-500/QS ranking #305/Shanghai #151-200

We carry confirmed dates till July 2024; Further dates are projected dates based on previous years

Please note that authorities may take last-minute decisions; please double-check if this information is vital to you
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School holidays :

Secular holiday : Shrove Tuesday Carnival

School holidays :

School holidays :

Banks only : Commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist (Lord's Supper) celebrates and His washing of the disciples' feet Maundy Thursday is not an official public holiday. But since it is the day before long Friday, many people has their workday shortened, and banks are closed in the afternoon.

Catholic or protestant : The First Council of Nicaea (a gathering of bishops in the early days of Christianity) wanted to find a day to commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. This commemoration had to be linked to Jewish holiday traditions, since the last supper of Christ was believed to be a Jewish Passover meal. But the Jewish calendar is based on lunar and solar cycles, so the Easter celebration had to follow the same calendar.

Catholic or protestant : Paid holiday

School holidays :

Secular holiday : carnations military revolution in 1974 which overthrew the Salazar regime

Secular holiday : Chicago, Saturday May 1st, 1886: 350,000 workers go on strike to call for an 8-hour working day. Industries are paralyzed nationwide. On Monday, as demonstrations go on, the police open fire. On Tuesday, Chicago is again on strike. Following a bomb launched against them, the police shoot again. 12 dead, of which 7 policemen. 8 anarchists will be condemned and executed. In 1889, the Socialist International Movement met in Paris and declared this day international workers' day . The Soviets will follow suit, just as the Nazis. In France, under the Vichy regime (1940-1944), the celebration is renamed Labour Day .

Catholic : Commemorates the Last supper. Pope Urban IV ordered the observance of such a feast in 1264, and in the following century it became universal in the Western Church. For six hundred years that feast was observed on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, but in 1970 the new Roman Missal, while retaining that day for some countries, provided that in others the feast be observed on the Sunday after Trinity. the actual celebration is moved to the nearest weekend.

School holidays : Only classes 9 - 11 -- 12

Secular holiday : Commemorates Luis de Camoes, Portugal's greatest poet, who died in 1580. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

School holidays : Only classes 5.º, 6.º, 7.º, 8.º e 10.º

Secular holiday : Only in Braga and in St. João da Madeira