Daily Word Count: 5,174
Cumulative Words Written: 47,419
Total Words Discarded: 6,100
Total Chapters Drafted: 19
Time Spent Writing Today: 6 hours
June 10 is Dia de Portugal, a Portuguese national holiday. Since most everything was closed in town, I took Monday as a day to nest in my studio, finish a Peter Robinson thriller, and stay off my ankle. I also spent some time writing. Obviously. (See impressive stats above!)
Because I’d never heard of Dia de Portugal, I also did some research. Here’s everything you need to know.
Oh, to live the life of Luis Vaz de Camoes! He only lived from around 1524 to 1580, but he wrote much in his short existence. In part, Dia de Portugal is a celebration of this national poet’s birth. Though not well-regarded or widely-read in life, his work gained broad notoriety and acclaim after he died. Today, he is one of Portugal’s most beloved citizens, recognized throughout the entire Portuguese-speaking world. Almost 500 years after his death, his Os Lusiadas and Rimas are still among the great literary collections of the Western world.
10 June is also the Day of Race and the Day of Portuguese Communities. Both celebrations began in the 1930s as homages to Portuguese nationalism. In Messejana, the residents organized a parade of flags.
June 10 also celebrates the Day of the Holy Angel of the Guard of Portugal. The Angel Custodio do Reino was worshipped for more than a thousand years before the Portuguese drove out the Moors beginning in 1139 at the Battle of Ourique. The Angel of Peace appeared in a vision, assuring victory to the Christian forces, giving them confidence to rout the larger Muslim army.
I knew very little about Portuguese history before my residency. I hope you enjoy learning along with me!
To follow my residency at Buinho Creative Hub from the beginning, CLICK HERE and read forward.
2 Comments
I always enjoyed Mexico’s Dia de La Revolucion (Nov. 20). We have been there many times for the celebration. Not in a few years, though, because our visits have been earlier in November. What’s really cool about Dia de Portugal is that it’s not celebrating glorious violence, it celebrates a poet! How cool is that!?
They pack lots into it these days, but I too love that it celebrates a poet at its heart. 🙂
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