25 April, the Carnation Revolution, Portugal T-Shirt

 

25 April, the Carnation Revolution, Portugal T-Shirt

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The 25th of April Revolution, famously known as the Carnation Revolution, had its origins in a military coup led by a group of several hundred lieutenants, captains, and majors who had grown disillusioned with their experiences in the colonial wars in Africa. This audacious move unfolded in a country where an authoritarian regime had maintained its grip on power for nearly half a century. The red carnation emerged as the symbol of this revolution, and the inspiration for this illustration draws from this iconic emblem.

The story behind this Portuguese symbol traces back to a peculiar incident during a celebration of Tourist Day in 1974. On that day, Lisbon's markets were brimming with carnations. A well-known restaurant had planned to commemorate its one-year anniversary, but the unfolding Revolution prompted its manager to decide against opening for the day. The restaurant purchased carnations, which were subsequently distributed to the staff to take home. A passerby, Celeste Caeiro, was approached by a military member involved in the revolutionary coup who asked for a cigarette. However, she was a non-smoker, so she offered him a carnation instead. Without hesitation, he placed the flower in the barrel of his gun. From that moment, Celeste Caeiro became known as "Celeste dos Cravos," or "Celeste of the Carnations."

The people soon began distributing carnations to the troops, adorning their tanks and rifles with these flowers. This gesture gave rise to the name "Carnation Revolution." The use of carnations as symbols spread organically, becoming a spontaneous representation of the April 25th revolution and one of the most meaningful symbols for the Portuguese people.

If you have a friend, co-worker, teacher, or a relative of Portuguese nationality, they will undoubtedly hold this illustration in high regard, as it encapsulates the deep-rooted connection between the carnation and the concept of liberty in their culture.