Portugal’s flag, anthem and national day: the basics

A flag to observe

Portugal’s flag has two background colours: green and red. Green is next to the flagpole. This reference avoids confusing the sides when the flag is seen from different positions.

The shield of the national arms sits over the armillary sphere. On the shield, you can distinguish five blue escutcheons and seven castles. When counting the escutcheons, look for the small blue shields: do not confuse them with the white dots inside.

An anthem with two authors

The national anthem is called A Portuguesa. Alfredo Keil composed the music and Henrique Lopes de Mendonça wrote the lyrics. These are different roles, so it helps to associate each name with their contribution.

The National Constituent Assembly adopted A Portuguesa as the national anthem on 19 June 1911. Remember that adoption as the anthem and composition of the music are distinct events.

A date to remember

The Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities is celebrated on 10 June. Here, this celebration is studied alongside the national symbols, without confusing it with an element of the flag or anthem.

This Lusopasso guide is an independent, unofficial educational resource. Review the listed sources and try the questions to distinguish colours, elements, authors and dates.

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FAQ

How should I study the flag, anthem and Day of Portugal?

Study each subject separately: the flag’s elements, the anthem’s name and authors, and the celebration’s date. Use the guide’s sources, then try the topic questions.

How can I avoid mixing up the anthem’s authors?

In the anthem section, connect each name with their contribution: music or lyrics. Review that distinction in the question’s explanation and cited source.