It was 50 years ago that Red Carnations marked one of the most important dates in Portuguese history, the Revolution of April 25, 1974, known as the “Carnation Revolution”.
The carnation is a flower from the Carnation plant, native to Asia and cultivated since ancient times. It has grayish-green leaves and flowers with irregularly serrated edges in various colors, such as red, pink, white, and yellow. The flowers are usually very aromatic and therefore are often used in perfumes.
The carnation has gained prominence throughout history due to the diversity of symbolism given in various contexts and cultures. For example, in France, purple carnations are the traditional funeral flower; in the United States, carnations are used to honor mothers who have passed away. In Portugal, red carnations take on a historical context, as they symbolize one of the most important milestones in the country’s history: The April 25 Revolution.
Learn the Story of the Red Carnation
The person responsible for the Carnation becoming the symbol of the April 25 Revolution was Celeste Caeiro, a waitress at the Franjinhas restaurant. On the 25th, the restaurant was going to inaugurate its new self-service, but this did not happen due to the Revolution. Since it was a day of celebration, the restaurant owner had ordered Red Carnations to decorate the place; however, so they wouldn’t go to waste, he asked the staff to take the carnations with them.
Celeste Caeiro decided to take the Carnations to Rossio where the soldiers were gathered waiting for orders from the general command. A soldier approaches and asks Celeste Caeiro if she smokes, as he needed a light to light his cigarette. Celeste replies that she is not a smoker and says she can only offer a Red Carnation. The soldier accepts and places the Carnation in the barrel of his rifle, with his gesture being imitated by his fellow soldiers.
This gesture symbolizes a Historic Revolution that links the Carnations to the absence of bloodshed.
