What if June 24 were a national holiday?

Not because of St. John, but because of the Battle of St. Mamede. “It’s the 1st of Portugal,” explains councilman in Guimarães.

The day June 24 It is immediately associated with São João, by most Portuguese. It is the big party in Porto, where it is a holiday – as is holiday (local) in Braga, Vila do Conde, or Vila Nova de Gaia.

But June 24 will also have been the day of Battle of São Mamede. In 1928, on the outskirts of Guimarães, this decisive battle was taken between the forces of D. Afonso Henriques and your mother, D. Teresa.

D. Teresa ruled Portucalense County after the death of her husband, Henrique de Burgundy – and had a strong covenant with Fernão Peres de Trava, from Galicia.

D. Afonso Henriques wonlater he was self-proclaimed king of Portugal (1939), a statute reinforced in 1143 by the officially recognized in 1179 by Pope Alexander III.

This is why there are those who consider that The Battle of St. Mamede was the beginning of the founding of a new country: Portugal.

That’s why, June 24 should be a national holiday – That’s what Miguel Oliveira argues, councilor the culture of the City Council of Guimarães.

Miguel, who has only held this position since last week (predecessor Paulo Lopes Silva is now a deputy in the Assembly of the Republic) was presenting the cultural program for summer in Guimarães, when he recovered this idea and announced an invitation to the Prime Minister Luís Montenegro – To be the “president” of the municipal holiday ceremonies.

And even left a suggestion: Montenegro could take the moment to announce that there will be a national holiday.

“Justice will only be done when June 24 is a national holiday. The Prime Minister was invited to chair the ceremonies of the 1st of Portugal and, If it comes, it is a great opportunity to announce this measure to the country”, Cites or.

The councilman is aware that the decision is not only dependent on the government, but expects the new holiday to be announced before October: President Domingos Bragança will leave the House.

“This is the last term of Domingos Bragança and it would be fair to be done in your time. If you can’t be now, at least 2028” – When 900 years of the Battle of São Mamede are marked