On June 24, the celebrations of Saint John’s Day, popularly known as “Santo Festeiro”, involve various June festivities throughout the national territory.
However, contrary to what many think, this date of great cultural relevance does not constitute an official national holiday.
The festival has its roots in the calendar of the Catholic Church and commemorates the birth of John the Baptist, a religious figure who, according to the Christian faith, announced the coming of Jesus Christ.
The federal government classifies Saint John’s Day as an optional event, which means that the decision on whether to be exempt from work is up to each state and municipality individually. This decentralized model generates a mosaic of working days and holidays, requiring attention from workers and employers who work in different locations or plan trips.
Cities in the northeast and municipalities in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro celebrate the date with a local holiday
Some capitals in the Northeast, a region with a strong tradition of June festivals, declare a holiday on that day, including Salvador, Aracaju and Maceió.
In addition to northeastern cities, municipalities such as Barueri, in São Paulo, and Niterói and Itaboraí, in Rio de Janeiro, also stop activities because they consider Saint John their patron saint.
Impacts of local deliberations on working hours and employee rights
In places where the date is officially a holiday, the general rule provides for the release of employees from their work obligations, except in sectors considered essential, such as health, security and public transport, where operations are maintained.
In these specific cases, employees who work in essential services are entitled to compensation: receiving double payment for the hours worked or being granted time off on another day.
If the employee does not receive compensatory time off or double pay, he or she can seek guidance from the category union, make a formal complaint to the Ministry of Labor and Employment or seek legal assistance.