When is National Heroes Day?
National Heroes Day is a public holiday in Puerto Rico on the third Monday in February. This means it takes place on the same day as the US Federal Holiday for Washington's Birthday.
History of National Heroes Day
Puerto Rico used to observe separate public holidays for four of its national heroes. Law 1113 of 2014 established the consolidation of these holidays into one day.
Now the third Monday in February covers all these bases: The Day of Jorge Washington, Day of the Presidents and the Day of the Prócer and the Illustrious Woman of Puerto Rico in honor of the life and work of: Eugenio María de Hostos, José de Diego, Luis Muñoz Rivera, José Celso Barbosa, Ramón Emeterio Betances, Román Baldorioty de Castro, Luis Muñoz Marín, Ernesto Ramos Antonini and Luis A. Ferré.
This change was intended to make the labor sector more competitive by reducing the number of holidays.
The four holidays that were replaced are as follows:
Eugenio María de Hostos
Eugenio María de Hostos (1839–1903) was a writer and statesman who struggled for Puerto Rican independence and the end to slavery in the late 19th century. In its latter years this holiday was celebrated on the second Monday of January.
Luis Muñoz Rivera
Luis Muñoz Marín (1898–1980), was the first democratically elected governor of Puerto Rico. He founded the Partido Popular Democrático and was instrumental in establishing the Commonwealth status in 1952. He was a noted journalist and poet and served four terms as governor. This holiday was observed on the third Monday of July.
José de Diego
José de Diego (1867–1918) was a much-loved poet and political leader. In its latter years, the holiday was celebrated on the third Monday of April.
Dr. José Celso Barbosa
Dr. José Celso Barbosa (1857–1921) was a medical doctor and an early advocate of statehood, founder of the Republican Party on the Island. This holiday was observed on July 27th.
