2027 Brazilian Independence Day

Brazilian Independence Day on September 7 marks the moment in 1822 when Prince Regent Dom Pedro, standing on the banks of the Ipiranga stream in São Paulo, declared 'Independence or death!' and broke Brazil away from Portugal, becoming Emperor Pedro I. The main celebration is a military parade along the Esplanada dos Ministérios in Brasília attended by the President, with an aerobatic display by the air force's Esquadrilha da Fumaça trailing green and yellow smoke, and parades of troops, school bands and civic groups take place in state capitals and towns across the country. The week leading up to it is Semana da Pátria, when schools hold flag ceremonies and the symbolic Fire of Freedom torch is carried by relay. It is a national public holiday, and when it falls near a weekend many Brazilians take a long break, so domestic flights and beach hotels are busy. Green and yellow decorations appear on streets and shopfronts. This countdown ticks to midnight Brasília time in São Paulo on September 7.