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Pernambuco Magna Day

Aims to evoke and honour the heroes of the Revolution, and provide the Pernambuco people with a better understanding of their history and reaffirm their love for the state.

Pernambuco Magna Day

Article available in: PT-BR ESP

Last update: 05/09/2013

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Pernambuco Magna Day–6 March, the day of the Pernambuco Revolution in 1817 – was established on the initiative of the Pernambuco Legislative Assembly through Law No. 13,386 on 24 December 2007. The bill, authored by congress woman Terezinha Nunes, aims to evoke and honour the heroes of the Revolution, and provide the Pernambuco people with a better understanding of their history and reaffirm their love for the state.

The date was chosen out of five historical moments suggested by the Pernambuco Archaeological, Historic and Geographic Institute: 13 January (the date of the execution of FrCaneca), 27 January (the Pernambuco Restoration), 6 March (the Constitutionalist Revolution of 1817), 5 October (the Beberibe Convention) and 10 November (the Proclamation of the Republic atthe Olinda Senate). The election was conducted by a public survey available in the media: Internet, radio stations, polls and an interactive channel. The entire process was monitored by the Pernambuco Broadcasting Association.

The Pernambuco Revolution of 1817 broke out on 6 March, and is a landmark in the fight against the oppression by the Portuguese Court. This historical movement was led by Domingos José Martins, with the support of Antonio Carlos de Andrada e Silva and FreiCaneca. They installed a provisional government that proposed the proclamation of the Republic, the wiping out of abusive taxes and the drafting of a constitution to guarantee rights for citizens, such as the equality of all before the law, freedom of religion and freedom of the press.

With these proposals, the Revolution brought together representatives of various segments of society, including lower classes, who also wanted political emancipation and the establishment of a republican government. The initiative made Pernambuco society experience a new political situation for about two months.

After this period, the Portuguese Court suppressed the movement. The city of Recife was surrounded by land and sea, which resulted in the arrest and death of the leaders of the Revolution. The fight, however, was not in vain. Five years later the independence of Brazil was proclaimed.

On 6 March 2008,the first celebration of Pernambuco Magna Daywas held. The Legislative Assembly gave the of Frei Caneca Democratic and Popular Merit Medal, in a solemn session, to governors Eduardo Campos (Pernambuco), Cassio Cunha Lima (Paraiba) and Wilma Farias (Rio Grande do Norte).

At the 2009 celebrations, there was also the granting of Frei Caneca Medal. This time it was for representatives of Freemasonry and the Catholic Church, institutions considered pillars of the Revolution of 1817, as the great heroes of the movement were part of them.

The institution of Pernambuco Magna Day on 6 March has been raising questions since 2009 about the obligation of it being a public holiday. The Federal Government, through the Law No. 9093 on September 12 1995, authorized the states, in addition to national and religious holidays, toestablish a civil holiday for the celebration of their Magna Day. Businessesdid not support the new holiday, saying it would be harmful to the state economy. After extensive debate between parliamentarians and the PernambucoUnion of Commercial Employees, the State Government determined that, from the year 2010, the Magna Dayis to be celebrated on the first Sunday of March.

Translated by Peter Leamy, January 2012.

 

sources consulted

ASSEMBLEIA LEGISLATIVA DE PERNAMBUCO. Leia e entenda um pouco a importância do feriado de hoje. Jornal do Commercio, Recife, 6 mar. 2009. Política, p. 5.

APROVADA mudança na Data Magna. Disponível em: . Acesso em: 26 fev. 2010.

DATA Magna será comemorada no próximo domingo. Disponível em: . Acesso em: 26 fev. 2010.

DATA Magna de3 Pernambuco se comemora neste domingo. Disponível em: . Acesso em: 26 fev. 2010.

DATA Magna de Pernambuco. Disponível em: . Acesso em: 26 fev. 2010.

PARLAMENTO celebra Data Magna de Pernambuco. Disponível em:. Acesso em: 26 fev. 2010.

ROSADO, Delmar. 6 de março (1817) – Data Magna de Pernambuco – mais uma agressão à gloriosa história de nosso Estado. Disponível em: . Acesso em: 26 fev. 2010.

 

how to quote this text

Source:  BARBOSA, Virgínia. Pernambuco Magna Day. Pesquisa Escolar Online, Joaquim Nabuco Foudation, Recife. Available at:  <http://basilio.fundaj.gov.br/pesquisaescolar/>. Accessed: day month year. Exemple: 6 Aug. 2009