Today, June 9, the people of the Azores are celebrating Azores Day—Dia da Região Autónoma dos Açores (Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores)—a regional public holiday observed each year on the Monday following Pentecost, also known as Holy Spirit Monday.
This movable feast honors both the archipelago’s deeply rooted religious traditions and its political autonomy.
Celebrated across all nine islands of the Azores, the holiday symbolizes the affirmation of Azorean identity, culture, and self-rule. It reflects the unity, pride, and unique way of life of the Azorean people.
Each year, official ceremonies are hosted on a different island. In 2025, Terceira Island is the host, with the Solemn Commemorative Session taking place at 10:30 AM at the Auditório do Ramo Grande in Praia da Vitória.
The session features speeches by the President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, and the President of the Legislative Assembly, Luís Garcia.
A key moment of the day is the awarding of 20 honorary insignias (Insígnias de Mérito), which recognize outstanding civic, professional, and cultural contributions to Azorean society.
This year, Portugal’s regional public broadcaster, RTP Açores, received the highest distinction for its role in promoting Azorean culture and community through news, documentaries, and public service programming.
Following the official session, the public is invited to a traditional communal lunch of “Sopas do Espírito Santo” near the Marina of Praia da Vitória, accompanied by a live performance from the Filarmónica União Praiense.
In parallel, the Legislative Assembly in Horta (Faial Island) will host an Open Doors event from 2 PM to 5 PM, offering guided tours of the plenary chamber, the Assembly Museum, and the Cedars House gardens.
The Day of the Autonomous Region of the Azores was officially established by Regional Decree No. 13/80/A, passed by the Azorean Parliament on August 21, 1980, under the leadership of João Bosco Mota Amaral, the first President of the Regional Government. The holiday commemorates the establishment of political autonomy in 1976, following the 1974 Carnation Revolution, and the subsequent enshrinement of regional self-governance in the Portuguese Constitution.
PAJ/Staff
The Azores (population 250,000) is a region of Portugal composed of nine islands. The archipelago, discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, became an Autonomous Region of Portugal in 1976. The government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores includes the Legislative Assembly, composed of 57 elected deputies, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term; the Regional Government and Presidency, with parliamentary legitimacy, composed of a President, a Vice-President and seven Regional Secretaries responsible for the Regional Government’s executive operations. The Autonomous Region of the Azores is represented in the Council of Ministers of the Central Government by a representative appointed by the President of Portugal. According to the latest US census, over 1.3 million individuals of Portuguese descent live in the United States, the majority with roots in the Azores. It is estimated that over 20,000 US citizens live in Portugal.
