APRIL 25th - DIA DA LIBERDADE
Freedom Day & The Carnation Revolution
Published April 2026.
April 25th is Portugal’s most important celebration, for good reason. It’s the annual rememberance of the day the fascist Estudo Novo regime, led by dictator António de Oliveira Salazar and then his predecesor Marcelo Caetano, fell thanks to an organised military coup in 1974 that turned into a real revolution, restoring democracy and basic freedoms to the people.
It is a layered history and requires an in depth understanding, but here is as brief a version as I could make, to give you an understanding why the spirit of the Carnation Revolution lives on.
The Reasons
The ECONOMY - Portugal’s economy was being bled dry from unwinnable colonial wars in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau. By 1974 they were deep into a 13 year war with no end in sight. At this point most other colonising countries had backed out of Africa but Portugal refused, clinging to a withering empire. The financial cost was massive with some reports as high as 8% GDP and 40% of Government expenditure.
The DEATHS - The mostly young men sent to fight these wars died in their thousands (somewhere over 8,000 with thousands more wounded), and those recruited did not want to fight an unwinnable war they no longer believed in.
Bestie Note: Although not a contributing “reason” for the revolution per say, you best believe I’m including the African deaths, which far outway the Portuguese. The overall mortality numbers are harder to pin down, but it is estimated anywhere between 70,000 - 110,000 African civilians, over 41,000 guerrila fighters, and around another 2000 foreign settlers living there.
The FASCISTS - Salazar, had been dead for 4 years before the revolution, but his ideals were enforced by his successor Marcello Caetano. Their regime, Estado Novo, were authoritarian oppressors who eliminated free press, free speech, workers rights & elections.
Like any fascist regime, they had an evil goon squad, the PIDE, that tortured & killed many who they deemed as dissidents. I recommend the book Queen Of The Sea here, which talks about having to move the location of political prisoners out of the city centre as residents couldn’t sleep for the noise of screaming tortur men.
The Heroes
The MFA - By the spring of 1974, the secret sector of soldiers called the MFA Movimento das Forças Armadas (Armed Forces Movement) had a network of around 300 supporting officers. They were the military who performed the coup on April 25th.
Note: The MFA never intended to govern Portugal, even temporarily. Instead they organised a faction of eminent senior soldiers, led by General Spinola to whom Caetano handed over power, to be the first provisional government.
Officer Otelo de Carvalho - Head strategist and mastermind behind the coup. He was assisted by founders Vítor Alves and Vasco Lourenço.
Captain Salgueiro Maia - As a Captain in the Practical Cavalry School, he commanded the column of tanks and troops from Santarém to Lisbon. He directly persuaded loyalist forces to join the revolution rather than firing on the people (many civilians had also taken to streets when it was underway).
Celeste Caeiro -A restaurant employee had armfuls of red carnations meant for a cancelled event, so instead handed them out to the soldiers. They put them down the barrels of their rifles and pinned to their shirts. An iconic symbol of peace over bullets that lives on with pride.
“O povo é quem mais ordena”
"The people are the ones who command"
- José Afonso, from the song "Grândola, Vila Morena"
The Music
Coordination for revolution relied heavily on the radio. The soldiers took their commands by the songs played!
10:55 - "E Depois do Adeus" by Paulo de Carvalho. A cheesy Eurovision pop song (so you know I love it), was the signal to get ready and move into position. Here is the Spotify link.
00:25 - "Grândola, Vila Morena" by José Afonso. Already banned for it’s lyrics saying the people have the power, it was the “GO!” signal. It is the eternal song of the liberation. Here is the Spotify link.
The Myth
Though it was mostly peaceful, it is often said it was a bloodless coup, which does not honour the 4 people lost their lives.
It is a disservice to not remember Fernando C. Gesteira, José J. Barneto, Fernando Barreiros dos Reis, and João Guilherme R. Arruda.
The Outcomes
Marcello Caetano was taken into military custody. He flew in exile to Brazil, never to return, dying there in 1980 of a heart attack.
The Colonial Wars ended overnight(ish).
Polictical prisoners held at Caxias Fort were released the next day.
Free democratic elections were held within a year.
The post-revolutionary period saw dramatic improvements in health, education, working conditions & women’s rights.
The Annual Celebration
Every year people take to the streets on April 25th to celebrate Freedom Day! From older people who lived during the Estado Novo, to younger generations, it’s a a reminder of the value of democracy, the fight against fascism, and the end of Portuguese colonialism. It’s a time to sing, dance and be together.
In Lisbon you can join the annual Great March, where thousands of people walk in solidarity as both a celebration and historical remembrance. Usually around 3pm starting at Marquês de Pombal, going down Avenida Liberdade, toward Praça do Comércio.
It’s also the one day of the year Parliament opens it’s doors to the public. It is my mission this year to finally see inside!
There are also other smaller celebrations in various locations across the city that vary year to year. But wherever in Portugal you are, people will be celebrating!
Learn More
I recommend a visit any time of year to Museu do Aljube, a former prison, now a museum dedicated to the history and memory of the fight against the dictatorship.
Further reading, I really love this article from the Guardian archives, written two days after the revolution!
The Portuguese neflix series Glória that I mention on the YLB Portuguese TV page is set during the Colonial Wars. It has subtitles in English.
I also have a list of non-fiction books here.
I did my very best to research this, if there’s something that needs correcting or including, please get in touch