Portugal Day - June 10th

Luís de Camões

Celebrated through out the world in Portuguese populations, June 10th stands as Portugal Day.  This day marks the death of one of Portugal's greatest writers, Luís de Camões.  Camões wrote the epic poem which tells of the great Portuguese culture and society.  Normally someone like this would be honored on their birthday but no one is sure when Camões' was born so his death was chosen.  He was not just a writer though, he lived a life of adventure, losing an eye while in a fight and even, legend has it, taking the poem itself on an adventure.  It is said that when his ship wrecked off the coast of present Vietnam he saved it by swimming to shore with one arm and keeping the other out of the water.

Links:
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal_Day

Other: http://portugalday.com/