Valentine’s Day in Brazil

Yes, Brazilians celebrate Valentine’s Day… big time.

Brazil celebrates o Dia dos Namorados on the 12th of June, as opposed the the internationally common 14th of February. I guess there is enough to celebrate in Brazil in fevereiro, what with Carnaval and all. The 12th of June is véspera the day before the Dia de Santo Antônio, who is the Portuguese saint with a reputation for encouraging marriage.

The traditions surrounding this day in Brazil are quite similar to those in other countries. It is a bit of a ‘Hallmark Holiday,’ and a great excuse to shower your loved one, whether a spouse (esposo) or a girlfriend or boyfriend (namorado/a). It is generally a good idea to make some plans, perhaps a reservation at a nice restaurant followed by a walk on the praia. Though I don’t have any statistics to back this up, I would imagine that motel rentals skyrocket on this day, as many unmarried people live with their (often religious) parents and are not welcome to bring their namorado/a back home at the end of the night.

Useful vocabulary: namorar means to go out with; to date