Observance guideSource-backed

Nossa Senhora Aparecida / Our Lady of Aparecida2026 · Date · History · Messages

Brazil Federal Law No. 6,802 of 30 June 1980

Annual dateReviewed 2026-10-08Sensitive topic

About Nossa Senhora Aparecida / Our Lady of Aparecida

Nossa Senhora Aparecida, or Our Lady of Aparecida, is honored in Brazil on October 12. Brazilian Law No. 6,802 of June 30, 1980 makes October 12 a national holiday dedicated to the country’s patroness, Nossa Senhora Aparecida.

For Catholic devotees it is a religious celebration, while the statutory holiday also affects a wider public with diverse beliefs. The guide describes the legal date without suggesting religious observance is compulsory.

Why Nossa Senhora Aparecida / Our Lady of Aparecida matters

The date carries devotional and cultural importance for many Brazilian Catholics. Pilgrimage, prayer and community activity may accompany the feast, alongside ordinary family time on the national holiday.

Belief, pilgrimage and participation are individual choices; describing the public holiday does not imply all Brazilians share a faith or that every workplace operates on the same schedule.

History of Nossa Senhora Aparecida / Our Lady of Aparecida

Law No. 6,802 was enacted on June 30, 1980 and published on July 1, declaring October 12 a national holiday consecrated to Nossa Senhora Aparecida, Brazil’s patroness. The Brazilian Senate and Chamber of Deputies preserve the legal text and record the originating legislative proposal.

That modern civil legal instrument should not be mistaken for the beginning of the much older Marian devotion or for the institution of all local religious practices. Local pilgrimage schedules and church programming must be checked with their organizers each year.

Institutional timeline

How the observance developed

This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.

EstablishmentJune 30, 1980
National Congress of Brazil; President of Brazil
Federal Law No. 6,802 of June 30, 1980
Current stewardshipCurrent
Brazilian public institutions and Catholic faith communities
Civil holiday and religious celebrations have different facilitators and responsibilities.

Origins & establishment

What the evidence establishes

Evidence & sources ↓

Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.

Proclaiming / establishing bodyNational Congress of Brazil; President of BrazilFederal law was passed and sanctioned in 1980.

Original establishing instrument / decisionFederal Law No. 6,802 of June 30, 1980Brazilian Senate and Chamber publish the legal text.

Original instrument adoption / decision dateJune 30, 1980Date printed in Law 6,802.

Current facilitator / coordinatorBrazilian public institutions and Catholic faith communitiesCivil holiday and religious celebrations have different facilitators and responsibilities.

Why this exact date?October 12 national holiday date specified by Law No. 6,802Article 1 unambiguously sets October 12.

4 fields not established in reviewed sources

Originator / proposerNo reliable reviewed source established this lifecycle detail; a related historical event or current campaign is not silently treated as the original act.

First observanceNo reliable reviewed source established this lifecycle detail; a related historical event or current campaign is not silently treated as the original act.

Former nameNo reliable reviewed source established this lifecycle detail; a related historical event or current campaign is not silently treated as the original act.

Former dateNo reliable reviewed source established this lifecycle detail; a related historical event or current campaign is not silently treated as the original act.

Source qualityHigh confidence

3 Primary institutional / legal

View all sources ↓

Names

Also known as

Lady of Aparecida

How to Observe Nossa Senhora Aparecida / Our Lady of Aparecida

Read the official Brazilian law and consider the distinction between civil and religious observance.

Explore the history of the basilica or local cultural heritage through trustworthy sources.

If attending pilgrimage or worship, check accessibility, transport and organizer guidance.

Respect the beliefs and nonparticipation choices of neighbors and colleagues.

Nossa Senhora Aparecida / Our Lady of Aparecida Facts

Fact 01

October 12 is a Brazilian national holiday under Law No. 6,802 of 1980.

Fact 02

The holiday is dedicated to Nossa Senhora Aparecida, patroness of Brazil.

Fact 03

The 1980 legal act does not establish when the older devotional tradition first began.

Fact 04

Religious participation is a personal choice even where the civic holiday applies nationally.

Nossa Senhora Aparecida / Our Lady of Aparecida Messages

May October 12 be a peaceful day for all who observe it.

Classification

Topic and context

Faith, Tradition & Spirituality →

Faith, Tradition & Spirituality Faith Spirituality

Accuracy notes

What this page does not assume

Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Faith Context Respect.

Evidence

Evidence & sources

Source policy →

Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.

Source 01www2.camara.leg.br

Brazilian Chamber of Deputies — original Law 6,802 text (opens in a new tab)

Primary institutional / legalGuide sources

Source 02legis.senado.leg.br

Brazilian Senate — Law 6,802 of June 30, 1980 (opens in a new tab)

Primary institutional / legalGuide sources

Source 03www.planalto.gov.br

Presidência da República — Law 6.802 (opens in a new tab)

Observance recordPrimary institutional / legalGuide sources

National Statute

Questions & connections

Understand it, compare it, then explore further

Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.

Reader questions

Frequently asked questions

When is Nossa Senhora Aparecida / Our Lady of Aparecida?

12 October The documented recurrence rule is: 12 October.

Does Nossa Senhora Aparecida / Our Lady of Aparecida fall on the same date every year?

Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.

Is Nossa Senhora Aparecida / Our Lady of Aparecida an official public holiday?

The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Brazil — national holiday. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.

Who established or recognizes Nossa Senhora Aparecida / Our Lady of Aparecida?

The reviewed sources identify National Congress of Brazil; President of Brazil as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Brazilian public institutions and Catholic faith communities.

Is Nossa Senhora Aparecida / Our Lady of Aparecida international or country-specific?

No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: Brazil — national holiday. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.

How is this page verified?

The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-08.

When is Nossa Senhora Aparecida observed?

October 12 each year in Brazil.

Is October 12 a public holiday in Brazil?

Yes. Federal Law No. 6,802 of 1980 declares it a national holiday.

Is the 1980 law the origin of the devotion?

No. It establishes the modern national civil holiday, not the origin of older religious practice.

Must everyone celebrate religiously?

No. Religious participation is voluntary and personal.

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