Officially celebrated on March 1, the anniversary of Rio de Janeiro marks the founding of one of the most coveted tourist destinations on the planet.
And it’s not hard to understand why Rio is called the Marvelous City. The metropolis attracts visitors from all over the world with its incredible landscapes, unmissable parties, and the contagious energy of those who live here. But the city also has a past full of important historical landmarks.
On the day it celebrates 461 years, let’s travel back in time and explore the roots of its origins!
The origin of the name and calendar confusion
First of all, it is worth clarifying a confusion that always arises when talking about Rio de Janeiro’s anniversary.
This is because many residents and tourists confuse the official date with Saint Sebastian’s Day. The municipal patron saint is honored on January 20, which is even a local holiday.
In addition, April 23 also confuses many people, as it is the day of St. George, the patron saint of the state, and is also a holiday.
However, even though the dates are extremely significant, none of them represent the birth of the city.
Another curious fact is that the very name of the municipality has its own story. The Portuguese arrived at Guanabara Bay on January 1, 1502, during an expedition led by Amerigo Vespucci.
Upon seeing the waters, the explorer exclaimed the name that would baptize the region, combining what he thought he had seen (“river”) with the month of discovery (“January”).
It is important to note that, at that time, the word “river” served as a generic term to describe any large body of water, such as bays and inlets.
The true official founding of Rio de Janeiro
But why is Rio de Janeiro’s anniversary celebrated on March 1? The historical answer points to 1565, the year in which Portuguese captain Estácio de Sá officially founded the city of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro. The choice of this name paid homage to D. Sebastião, who at the time represented the future king of Portugal.
The arrival of Estácio de Sá’s fleet in Rio de Janeiro had a well-defined strategic purpose: to expel the French. The invaders had occupied the territory ten years earlier, in 1555. Thus, in order to ensure absolute control of the area, the Portuguese captain brought soldiers and ships, marking the beginning of the metropolis.
Finally, over more than 400 years, Rio de Janeiro has undergone remarkable transformations and unforgettable episodes. The city holds many other curiosities in its history, but we will leave those facts for a future article.