Azores Day

Azores Day
Azores Day
Official name	Dia da Região Autónoma dos Açores
Also called	Dia dos Açores
Observed by	25 May
Frequency	annual
Related to	Pentecost

Azores Day (Portuguese: Dia dos Açores) is a regional holiday in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. It commemorates the establishment of Azorean political autonomy in the Portuguese Constitution, following the Carnation Revolution. The date corresponds to the Festival of the Holy Spirit, a celebration based in the archipelago's religious and cultural history, held on the Sunday of Pentecost, a movable public holiday observed only in the archipelago of the Azores.^[1]

History

It had its base in other attempts to implement a level of autonomy, like the 19th century decree of 2 March 1895.^[2]

It was in June 1976 that the regional elections installed the first Legislature of the Azores, followed by the installation of a Government for the region, and later direct universal local authority elections in December.^[2]

At the state level, the Day of the Azores corresponds to Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas (

Afonso Henriques defeated his adversaries in Guimarães, while another thesis supported 24 July 1137, when this nobleman defeat the Moors at the Battle of Ourique.^[2]

The Day of the Azores, designated to the Dia da Região Autónoma dos Açores (Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores), corresponds to the Monday of the

Mota Amaral on 21 August 1980, under Regional Decree 13/89/A.^[1] At the original celebrations, apart from representatives of the government, the President of the Regional Legislature, Álvaro Monjardino and Minister of the Republic Henrique Horta were in attendance.^[2]

The preamble of the regional law justifies the institution of this day as both historic and based on the sentiments of Azoreans worldwide:[1]^[2]

Comprised of small communities, isolated for centuries, the Azores and kept cults, popular practices deeply and totally rooted in everyday life and distinctly Portuguese origin. Perhaps the most significant of them all will be the celebration of the Holy Spirit - that intertwine of the noblest Christian traditions with the celebration of spring, of life, of solidarity and Hope - whose vitality celebration extends naturally to all Azorean cores around the world. The celebrations [of the Holy Spirit] are spontaneous, as vivid and intense as the nature of things, they impose an inevitable rest on the first business day that follows them. Because they are the most popular days of rest and recreation throughout the region, it is fair to consecrate [this day] as an affirmation of Azorean identity, of their philosophy of life and its regional unity - the base and justification of political autonomy to them recognized and proudly exercise.

Commemorations

Over time, the original context of Azores Day has changed from a commemoration of a "Day of Autonomy" to one based on the celebration of the political, religious, traditional and historic context of the Azores within Portugal.^[2] Political quarrels between the Azores and the national government are usually highlighted during these celebrations, with political commentaries made by the President of the Regional Government.^[2]^[3]

The Regional Government has traditionally, since 1980, held official celebrations on each island of the Azores.

Povoação (2012).^[1]^[3] During the celebration in Povoação, 47 honours (merit and recognition) were bestowed to Azoreans or Luso-descendents in the fields of industry, commerce, and agriculture.^[1]^[5]^[6]

References

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Dia dos Açores como feriado regional" (in Portuguese). Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal: Jornal Diário Online. 25 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Ourique, Arnaldo (19 May 2005), "Dia dos Açores (da Autonomia)", Cadernos de Autonomia (PDF) (in Portuguese), vol. 21, archived from the original (PDF) on 30 May 2010, retrieved 11 November 2012
^ ^a ^b Discurso do Presidente do Governo Carlos César, Na Sessão Solene Comemorativa do Dia da Região Autónoma dos Açores (PDF) (in Portuguese), Povoação (Azores), Portugal: Assembleia Legislativa da Região Autónoma dos Açores, 28 May 2012, retrieved 10 November 2012
^ "Dia dos Açores no Corvo" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Horta (Azores), Portugal: Assembleia Legislativa da Região Autónoma dos Açores. 5 May 2010.
^ Comemorações do Dia da Região Autónoma dos Açores (PDF) (in Portuguese), Povoação (Azores), Portugal: Assembleia Legislativa da Região Autónoma dos Açores, 25 May 2012, retrieved 10 November 2012
^ "Dia da Região Autónoma dos Açores" (PDF). A Voz de Portugal. St-Laurent, Quebec, Canada: A Voz de Portugal - Hebdomadaire. 23 May 2012. p. 4.

[JDiaro-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Dia dos Açores como feriado regional" (in Portuguese). Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal: Jornal Diário Online. 25 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2012.

[Caderno-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Ourique, Arnaldo (19 May 2005), "Dia dos Açores (da Autonomia)", Cadernos de Autonomia (PDF) (in Portuguese), vol. 21, archived from the original (PDF) on 30 May 2010, retrieved 11 November 2012

[GRA-3] Discurso do Presidente do Governo Carlos César, Na Sessão Solene Comemorativa do Dia da Região Autónoma dos Açores (PDF) (in Portuguese), Povoação (Azores), Portugal: Assembleia Legislativa da Região Autónoma dos Açores, 28 May 2012, retrieved 10 November 2012

[4] "Dia dos Açores no Corvo" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Horta (Azores), Portugal: Assembleia Legislativa da Região Autónoma dos Açores. 5 May 2010.

[5] Comemorações do Dia da Região Autónoma dos Açores (PDF) (in Portuguese), Povoação (Azores), Portugal: Assembleia Legislativa da Região Autónoma dos Açores, 25 May 2012, retrieved 10 November 2012

[Voz-6] "Dia da Região Autónoma dos Açores" (PDF). A Voz de Portugal. St-Laurent, Quebec, Canada: A Voz de Portugal - Hebdomadaire. 23 May 2012. p. 4.

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