Brazil's Independence Day celebrates the date on which Brazil became independent of Portugal, which happened on September 7th, 1822, popularly known as the September 7th, It is a national holiday, also called Homeland Day.
The process of Independence of Brazil took place in parallel to the independence movements that took place in the colonies of Spain here in America.
"Independence was a process of wear and tear in relations between Brazilian settlers, especially the elite, with Portugal. This had a direct relationship with the Liberal Revolution of Porto in 1820, but we can consider that it all began with the transfer of the Portuguese royal family to Brazil in 1808."
On that date, Brazilians commemorate the occasion when Dom Pedro proclaimed Brazil's independence by shouting "Independence or death", an act that became known as the Grito da Independência or Grito do Ipiranga, because it was given on the banks of the Ipiranga stream in São Paulo.
Before the scream, Dom Pedro ordered the soldiers accompanying him to remove the Portuguese symbols they carried in the uniforms. From that moment on, symbolically, Brazil became independent.
Brazil's independence came as a direct reflection of the Portuguese bourgeoisie's attempt to recolonize Brazil and reverse the advances that had taken place in the country — especially in economic issues — during the Joanino Period.
This name refers to D. João VI, regent who was at the head of Portugal and only became king Portuguese since 1816. Here in Brazil, D. João VI carried out a series of measures that contributed to the modernization of Brazil, promoting economic development and cultural and artistic flourishing.
It is important to say that our independence process was not peaceful, since there was resistance, which resulted in battles in places such as Bahia, Pará and Cisplatina (present-day Uruguay). The so-called "Brazilian" troops won and managed to subdue the resistance movements.
Portugal eventually recognized our independence in 1824, after the English mediated an agreement between Brazilians and Portuguese. Brazil, as an independent nation, organized itself as a monarchy, and D. Pedro was acclaimed and crowned as emperor of Brazil. Thus, from 1822, he began to be D. Pedro I.
September 7th was only transformed into a national holiday during the government of Eurico Gaspar Dutra, Brazil's first president after the Vargas dictatorship. This law decreed the existence of seven holidays in the Brazilian calendar and was reinforced and modified by a law signed during the government of Fernando Henrique Cardoso.
The celebrations of Independence in Brazil take place mainly in the major cities of Brazil and are marked by parades held by the Brazilian Army. In the capital, Brasilia, parades are held of members of the Armed Forces (Navy, Army and Air Force), as are parades of bands and even veterans of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force, who fought in World War II.
The Smoke Squadron, a detachment of the Air Force famous for conducting acrobatic displays with airplanes, exhibits in the capital. The celebrations of September 7th are so expressive that in 2018, for example, about 30,000 people attended the parades in São Paulo and Campo Grande, and 10,000 in Florianópolis. The most solemn parade takes place in Brasilia, where the President of the Republic and his guests participate.