|Portugal National Day 2016 - Google Doodle|
Today is Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas, which is the national day of Portugal. The day honors the country itself, the great Portuguese poet Luís de Camões, and the Portuguese language. Camões wrote Os Lusíadas, which is the country's national epic poem, celebrating centuries of achievements.
For a vivid example of Portugal's rich history, check out the subject of today's doodle by Alyssa Winans: Guimarães Castle. This medieval castle in the northern region of Guimarães is believed to be over 1,000 years old, and is associated with the foundation of the country of Portugal.
To recognize the different contributions of each region, each year the Portuguese President chooses a different city to host the celebration of their national day. Today's bounty of parades, parties, pageants, and ceremonies will be held in the capital city of Lisbon.