In Brazil, public holidays may be legislated at the federal, statewide and municipal levels. Most holidays are observed nationwide.
Apart from the yearly official holidays (listed below), the Constitution of Brazil also establishes that election days are to be considered national holidays as well. General elections are biennially held on the first Sunday of October in the first round, and on the last Sunday of October in the second round. Numerous religious and ethnic holidays are also celebrated in Brazil.
Fat Tuesday, The day of Carnival.
Ash Wednesday Wednesday after Carnival, the last Carnival day.
Good Friday, the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, is a municipal holiday in many places.
Corpus Christi is celebrated on the Thursday, 60 days after Easter Sunday.
Dia dos Namorados, the Brazilian equivalent of Valentine's Day, is observed on June 12. On this day, boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wives, exchange gifts, cards, or a flower bouquet. It is celebrated on the eve of St. Anthony of Padua's day, because, in Brazil, he is considered the patron of those who wants a loving companion.
Festas Juninas, the Catholic feasts of Santo Antônio, São João and São Pedro are celebrated June 13, 24, and 29 respectively in many Brazilian cities, especially in the Northeast region.
Dia das Mães, the Brazilian observation of Mother's Day, is celebrated every second Sunday in May.
Dia dos Pais, the Brazilian observation of Father's Day, is celebrated every second Sunday in August.
Dia das Crianças, the Brazilian Children's Day, is celebrated on October 12, coinciding with the Our Lady of Aparecida.
Federal law gives each state the right to create one state holiday, and each municipality to create up to four municipal holidays. Some of the more notable ones are:
January 12: Founding of Belém, City of Belém only.
January 20: Saint Sebastian (São Sebastião), City of Rio de Janeiro only.
January 22: Founding of the first city in Brazil, São Vicente. City of São Vicente only.
January 25: Founding of São Paulo (Aniversário de São Paulo) and São Paulo FC, City of São Paulo only.
January 26: Founding of Santos (Aniversario de Santos), City of Santos only.
March 6: Pernambucan revolt, State of Pernambuco only.