Dia dos Namorados

Dia dos Namorados
Date(s) 12 June
Frequency Annually
Country Brazil

Dia dos Namorados Portuguese: [ˈdʒiɐ duʒ namoˈɾaduʃ], Lovers' Day) is celebrated on June 12 in Brazil, due to the date's proximity to Saint Anthony's Day on June 13. The date is celebrated in a manner similar to the way that Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14 in many other parts of the world, with gifts, romantic activities, decorations and festivities. The term "Dia dos Namorados" is also used in other Portuguese-speaking countries.

Background

Anthony of Padua, known as Saint Anthony, died on June 13, 1231 in Padua, Italy.[1] In addition to having been canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church, Anthony of Padua is recognized as a general in the Brazilian Army.[1] In Brazil, the Dia dos Namorados is celebrated on June 12, which is Saint Anthony's Day Eve.[2] Saint Anthony is recognized for blessing young couples with happy and prosperous marriages.[2] Celebrations for Dia dos Namorados in Brazil and those for Valentine's Day in most other countries are similar. Typically, couples exchange romantic gifts, such as chocolates or flowers, and they may also share a "date night".[3] Additionally, beautifying home decorations are common as a part of the celebration. The day is festive, with colorful street decorations, parades and carnivals. Common musical celebrations include samba dancing and other folk music celebrations.[2] In 2011 [4] and in 2012,[5] the day was recognized online as the subject of a Google doodle.

Dia dos Namorados as a celebration for lovers is closely related to observances of Saint Anthony's Day. Although Saint Anthony's Day is celebrated in some countries on January 17 in association with Anthony the Great,[6] Saint Anthony (of Padua)'s Day Eve or Saint Anthony's Day is a day of religious observance for many in Brazil and his homeland of Portugal.[7] Single women perform popular rituals, called simpatias, in order to find a good husband or boyfriend. In addition to prayer on the Eve, one might conceal a love letter in a pot of basil to pass to a prospective suitor.[7]

The February 14 Valentine's Day is not celebrated in Brazil at all because it usually falls close to the Brazilian Carnival, which is celebrated in most other countries annually during the four days before Ash Wednesday, which falls between February 4 and March 10 depending on the year.[8] Because of the absence of Valentine's Day and due to the celebrations of the Carnivals, Brazil is a popular tourist spot during February for Western singles who want to get away from the holiday. U.S. News & World Report declared it the number one country in the world to visit to escape Valentine's Day celebrations.[9]

In other Portuguese speaking countries, mainly in Africa, Valentine's Day is referred to as "Dia dos Namorados" and celebrated the same day Valentine's Day is celebrated in February.

Dia dos Namorados is celebrated on the same day as Loving Day, the anniversary of the 1967 US Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia, which made interracial marriage legal throughout the United States.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "Old Calendar: St. Anthony of Padua". Trinity Communications. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Dia Dos Namorados- A Day For The Enamoured". Bold Sky. Oneindia.in. January 31, 2007. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  3. ↑ Fiona Hurrell (June 11, 2013). "Celebrate Dia dos Namorados 2013 in Rio". Rio Times. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Dia Dos Namorados 2011". Google. June 12, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Dia Dos Namorados 2012". Google. June 12, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  6. ↑ Daniels, Cora Linn and C. M. Stevans, ed. (2003). Encyclopædia of Superstitions, Folklore, and the Occult Sciences of the World. III. University Press of the Pacific. p. 1491. ISBN 1410209164. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  7. 1 2 Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations. ABC-CLIO. 2011. pp. 40–41. ISBN 1598842056. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  8. ↑ "The Psychology of Carnaval". Time. February 14, 1969. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  9. ↑ Graves, Jada A. (February 4, 2011). "7 Best Cities for Singles". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  10. ↑ "LovingDay.org: "What Is Loving Day?"". LovingDay.org. June 12, 2002. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
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