november 15th proclamation of the republic day (proclamação da república) is the day set aside as a national holiday to celebrate the overthrow, in rio de janeiro, of emperor pedro ii by field marshal deodoro da fonseca in 1889.

by the early 1880s, the government of the empire of brazil had failed to keep up with the changes that a growing independent country needed, so a bloodless coup occurred and the first republic was born.

lasting until the early 1930s there has been an ever turnover of governments ranging from military dictatorships to pseudo republics.

since the new millennium brazil has experienced a stable long term democracy, including one of the fastest growing economies in the world - this is what is really celebrated as the 'new' republic day.