Portugal Day 2021

We spoke with Nelson Coelho a supervisor with the KTL Group about his role at KTL and how he celebrates Day of Portugal on the 10 June 2021. This is the National Day of Portugal – it is a public holiday and celebrated by Portuguese people throughout the world.

What is your role at KTL?

I’m a supervisor in a mobile telecommunications project. Daily my role can involve site visits and or working remotely in back office.

When I’m on site I check work progress, health and safety audits, and find ways to make new improvements and solve issues at various points in the project.

I also do project inductions for the new crews who join the project.

What do you enjoy most about working at KTL?

I really enjoy working with the KTL team since joining the company in 2016.

KTL has helped me grow in so many different areas. I’m delighted to have got a lot of new opportunities including upskilling with professional qualifications.

Tell us about Portugal Day?

Portugal Day, officially Day of Portugal, Luís De Camões, and the Portuguese Communities.

The National day of Portugal is celebrated annually on the 10th of June. It is a public bank holiday’s and is celebrated by Portuguese people throughout the world. It commemorates the death of Luís De Camões on the 10th of June 1580 - he was a poet and national literary icon. The poet's date of birth is unknown, which is why he's commemorated on the day of his death instead. June 10th is not just important because of Luís De Camões , but also because Portugal gained independence from Spain on this date in 1640.

How will you celebrate this national holiday?

Well, as Portugal’s day is not a bank holiday in the UK, I will work. But later in the day, I’ll join some Portuguese friends for a glass of wine.

What are the three things about Portugal that most people wouldn’t know?

• Portuguese is the official language of 9 countries.

Over 236 million people worldwide are native Portuguese speakers. Portuguese is the official language of Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Principe, Sao Tome, and Equatorial Guinea. Portuguese is also spoken in Goa (India), Macao, and East Timor.

• Portugal is the oldest country in Europe.

Portugal has had the same defined borders since 1139, making it the oldest nation-state in Europe. Afonso Henriques was proclaimed the first King of Portugal in 1139, and the country remained a kingdom for almost 800 years thereafter until a successful 1910 revolution by the Portuguese Republican Party.

• Portugal is the largest cork producer in the world.

Portugal produces 70% of the world's cork exports. This makes sense, as the country also boasts the world's largest cork forest. The primary importers of Portuguese cork are Germany, the U.K., and the U.S.