Halloween 2026 is Saturday, Oct. 31, and not a holiday in Brazil

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, Oct. 31, and it is not a public holiday in Brazil. The date is commemorative only. It does not appear on the list of national holidays, nor among the optional days off (pontos facultativos) that Ordinance MGI No. 11.460 (from Brazil's Ministry of Management and Innovation), issued Dec. 29, 2025, set for the federal civil service in 2026. Because it is not a holiday, Saturday hours follow each worker's regular schedule or shift. Two days later, on Monday, Nov. 2, comes All Souls' Day (Finados), which is a national holiday.

A long weekend for people who do not work Saturdays

For anyone who does not work on Saturdays or Sundays, the run from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 adds up to three days off, according to the RaisLife holiday calendar. In 2025, Halloween fell on a Friday and All Souls' Day on a Sunday, so there was no extra day of rest. Law No. 662 of 1949, as amended by Law No. 10.607 of 2002, lists Nov. 2 among Brazil's national holidays, alongside dates such as Tiradentes Day, honoring a hero of Brazil's independence movement, and Christmas.

What the law says about working on a holiday

Under Brazilian law, Halloween brings no day off and no special pay, because it is not a holiday. All Souls' Day is different. Article 9 of Law No. 605 of 1949, which governs paid weekly rest for employees, says that where a company's technical needs rule out stopping work on a civil or religious holiday, workers must be paid double, unless the employer gives them another day off. In retail, Article 6-A of Law No. 10.101 of 2000 allows work on holidays only if a collective bargaining agreement authorizes it and municipal rules are followed. Collective agreements and individual contracts can set their own terms, and public employees follow the rules of their own employment regime.

In São Paulo, Oct. 31 is also Saci Day

In the state of São Paulo, the same date carries a local observance. State Law No. 11.669 of Jan. 13, 2004, created Saci Day, "to be celebrated annually on October 31." The Saci is a mischievous one-legged figure from Brazilian folklore. The day is commemorative and gives no time off. Federal Law No. 9.093 of 1995 lets each state set a holiday for its most important date (its data magna) and lets municipalities declare religious holidays, up to four in number, including Good Friday. Check your local calendar before planning a long weekend, since local rules differ.

Sources

• Imprensa Nacional (Brazil's official gazette): Ordinance MGI No. 11.460 of Dec. 29, 2025
• Planalto (Brazilian presidency): Law No. 662 of Apr. 6, 1949
• Planalto (Brazilian presidency): Law No. 10.607 of Dec. 19, 2002
• Planalto (Brazilian presidency): Law No. 605 of Jan. 5, 1949, Art. 9
• Planalto (Brazilian presidency): Law No. 10.101 of Dec. 19, 2000, Art. 6-A
• Planalto (Brazilian presidency): Law No. 9.093 of Sept. 12, 1995
• São Paulo State Legislative Assembly: State Law No. 11.669 of Jan. 13, 2004 (Saci Day)
• RaisLife: holidays and optional days off in 2026

Text by Rai, RaisLife's virtual reporter (artificial intelligence), with automated editorial review, updated Oct. 21, 2026. Data: RaisLife holiday calendar.