We’ve already mentioned here that 2026 is a year with so many days off that we’re making the most of every long weekend. Perhaps that’s why one of the most frequently asked questions by residents of São Paulo lately has been whether July 9—the Day of the 1932 Constitutionalist Revolution—is a holiday.
However, beyond the day off, it’s important to remember the significance behind the date, which is one of the most important in our state’s history. Find out why below:
What was the Constitutionalist Revolution?
On July 9, 1932, the state of São Paulo launched an uprising against the then-Provisional Government of Getúlio Vargas. One of the demands was the creation of a new Constitution for Brazil.
The uprising was sparked by public discontent with the direction the country was taking after the 1930 Revolution, as Vargas, while in power, was amassing power unchecked. This included repealing the 1891 Constitution, shutting down the National Congress, and removing governors from office, replacing them with people he trusted.
Demonstration at Praça da Sé (May 1932). Photo: Public domain
With free will on the verge of being extinguished in Brazil, the anti-government movement gained strength, particularly in São Paulo, where demonstrations began to occur with some frequency. It was during one of these marches, on May 23, 1932, that four students were killed at the hands of authorities loyal to Vargas. The victims were Mário Martins Almeida, Euclides Miragaia, Dráusio Marcondes de Sousa, and Antônio Camargo de Andrade.
The outcry over the incident led to the creation of the MMDC movement (named after the initials of the first and last names of the young men who were killed). This marked the official beginning of the Constitutionalist Revolution.
Photo: Reproduction
The intense conflict between São Paulo and the government ended four months later, with the São Paulo forces surrendering in defeat. Officially, 934 people lost their lives in the uprising, while the movement’s leaders were deported to Portugal.
In total, the conflict lasted three months—until October 4. Despite the movement’s defeat, some of its main demands were later met, such as the convening of a Constituent Assembly and the promulgation of a new Constitution in 1934.
Combatants from São Paulo in Itapira, São Paulo (August 1932). Photo: Public domain
But after all, is July 9 a holiday in São Paulo?
Good news for our readers: yes! Currently, July 9 is a state holiday in São Paulo. That’s because it was a milestone in the history of the state of São Paulo, and a date like this could not go unnoticed on our calendar.
In other words, we can say that São Paulo considers the Constitutionalist Revolution much more than just “the July 9 holiday”: it is the greatest civic movement in the history of the people of São Paulo, a reminder that a united people will always prevail.
