Events
Lady of Aparecida Day (Brazil)
Our Lady of Aparecida Day honors Nossa Senhora Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil. The day commemorates the 1717 discovery of a small clay statue of the Virgin Mary by fishermen in the Paraíba River, which became a symbol of hope and faith. Over centuries, devotion to Our Lady of Aparecida grew into one of Brazil’s most cherished traditions. Millions of pilgrims visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of Aparecida, one of the largest churches in the world, to pay tribute.
Radonitsa
Radonitsa is an important Eastern Orthodox commemoration of the departed, celebrated in Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, and other Slavic countries. On this day, families visit cemeteries to honor deceased relatives, bringing food, flowers and Easter eggs to their graves as symbols of life and resurrection. In Belarus, Radonitsa is both a religious and public holiday, blending ancient traditions with Christian faith.
Tiradentes Day
Tiradentes Day honors Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, known as Tiradentes, a national hero of Brazil’s independence movement. He led the Inconfidência Mineira, an 18th-century rebellion against Portuguese colonial rule in Minas Gerais. Though the uprising failed and Tiradentes was executed in 1792, his courage and sacrifice became symbols of freedom and national identity.