June 13 – St. Anthony's Day in Lisbon

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nWhen you hear that a particular holiday is one huge block party, a street fair, a crowded festival featuring eating, drinking, and being merry – you gotta suspect that the event is cancelled in 2020. I checked and discovered that Lisbon’s usual St. Anthony’s Day (and especially June 12 St. Anthony’s Eve) celebrations are indeed cancelled because of COVID-19.
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nOne of the traditions of St. Anthony’s Day is for men to give their loved one a potted basil plant decorated with a paper carnation and a message of love.
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nEven though this feast day is supposed to be about St. Anthony, the patron saint of Lisbon, it’s often called the Festival of Sardines – and the food stalls crowding the streets often feature folks grilling sardines. Apparently the smell of grilled sardines and basil is pretty strong!
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nPaper garlands strung between buildings, wine and sangria and beer, a parade, jumping over bonfires (!), and staying up all night long are other features of the usual St. Anthony’s Eve. 
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nTwo of the most unusual celebrations are: (1) Many people write a prayer on a piece of paper and then stuff the paper into a small bread roll. In turn, the roll is stuffed into the frame of St. Anthony’s picture! (2) There are mass wedding ceremonies! Starting with a 1958 wedding ceremony for 26 couples, held at the Church of St. Anthony, this tradition has become a way for people who cannot afford a big wedding to still have a massive celebration!! The newlywed couples even get to walk in their bridal finery in the parade!
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nSounds fun! Maybe next year…
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nAlso on this date:

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Anniversary of the founding of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia 

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nAnniversary of King Ludwig’s mysterious death

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nBirthdays of environmental artists Jeanne-Claude and Christo

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nSamurai Miyamoto Musashi’s birthday

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Read more  November 10 - Charmed Quark Day

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nBirthday of mathematician / logician / philosopher / painter / art theorist Leon Chwistek

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nAnniversary of the creation of the Yukon Territory in Canada

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nBirthday of organic chemist Rolf Huisgen

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nAnniversary of the Miranda Rights SCOTUS decision
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nAnniversary of the nomination of the first black jurist on the Supreme Court

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nWorldwide Knit in Public Day

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nInternational Young Eagles Day

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n(Second Saturday in June)

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nWorld Juggling Day

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n(Saturday closest to June 15)

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nPlan ahead:

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nCheck out my Pinterest boards for:

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• nJune holidays

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• nJune birthdays

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• nHistorical anniversaries in June

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nAnd here are my Pinterest boards for:

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• nJuly holidays

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• nJuly birthdays

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• nHistorical anniversaries in July

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