São Tomé Day, or Dia de São Tomé, is commemorated each year on December 21. It marks the arrival of the first Europeans to the island in 1471. São Tomé is Portuguese for Saint Thomas, whose feast day also falls on December 21. Príncipe was first called ‘Santo Antão’ or Saint Anthony, but it was later changed to Príncipe in honor of the Prince of Portugal. It’s a special day for the islanders, celebrated with music and dancing.
National Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day
National Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day is commemorated each year on December 21, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest night of the year. Since the holiday began in 1990, the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council have sponsored this day to call attention to the plight of the country’s homeless population. It’s also a day to encourage the public to act on their behalf.
Macao SARE Day
Macao SARE Day is observed on December 20 each year. Since 1999, Macao SARE Day, or Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day, has been commemorated on this day. It’s also known as ‘Dia Comemorativo do estabelecimento da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau’ in Portuguese. It marks the day that the Chinese government assumed formal sovereignty over Macao in 1999. It heralds the end of Macao’s colonial past. This means they are a relatively autonomous region within the People’s Republic of China that maintains separate administrative, legal, and judicial systems from the rest of the country.