Learn Portuguese in Brazil
with Cactus

Federative Republic of Brazil

GMT minus 3 hours in the east, northeast, south and southeast; GMT minus 4 hours in the west; and GMT minus 5 hours in the far west

8,511,965 sq km

Brasilia

55% European descent, 38% mulatto, 6% African descent (according to the 1980 census).

158.7 million

Fixed Public Holidays

1 January

New Year's Day

21 April

Tiradentes Day (revolutionary hero)

1 May

Labor Day

9 July

Civil Holiday, São Paulo State only

7 September

Independence Day

12 October

Our Lady Aparecida

1 November

All Saints Day

2 November

All Souls Day  

15 November

Proclamation of the Republic

8 December

Immaculate Conception

24 December

Christmas Eve (half day)

25 December

Christmas Day

31 December

New Year's Eve (half day)

Moveable Public Holidays

Carnival

23-27 Feb

Good Friday

13 Apr

Easter

15 Apr

Corpus Christi

14 Jun

Festivals

20 January

San Sebastian, Rio de Janeiro

25 January

Foundation Day, Sao Paulo

2 February

Festa de Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes Porto Allegre

19 March

St Joseph, Fortaleza

29 June

Sts Peter and Paul, Sao Paulo

2 July

State Independence Day, Salvador

16 July

Festa, Recife

15 August

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, Belo Horizonte

8 September

The Virgin of Victories, Curitiba, Santos, Vitoria

12 October

Nossa Senhora da Aparecida (Patron Saint of Brazil), Belem

8 December

Immaculate Conception, Belem, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia