Passing of Celeste Caeiro, a symbol of Portugal's revolution
A sad piece of news appeared on platform X about Celeste Caeiro's death. The Portuguese woman made her mark on her country's modern history, as her accidental gesture became one of the icons of the Carnation Revolution in 1974. She passed away on Friday in Lisbon at the age of 91.
On Friday, 15 November (GMT), a poignant announcement spread across Portugal regarding the death of one of the most significant women in the country's contemporary history. Celeste Caeiro passed away in Lisbon at the age of 91. Her gesture symbolised one of the most crucial revolutions in the country's and the world's history.
The news of her passing was confirmed by her granddaughter, Carolina, via platform X and by the authorities of the Portuguese Communist Party, to which Caeiro belonged. On 25 April 1974, she initiated the symbolism of the carnation in the peaceful revolution against the dictatorship.
On that day, Caeiro was carrying white and red carnations to the restaurant where she worked, intending to give them to customers. However, due to an ongoing military coup, the establishment was closed. Instead of returning home, she decided to distribute the flowers to soldiers she encountered on the streets of Lisbon.
The creator of the symbol of the Carnation Revolution has died
Soldiers, appreciating her gesture, began placing carnations in the barrels of their rifles. This symbol of peaceful resistance quickly became the key emblem of the revolution that led to the overthrow of Antonio Salazar's right-wing dictatorship, which had governed the country since the 1920s.
In later years, Caeiro admitted that her action was accidental but became an important symbol for the entire nation. The Carnation Revolution also sparked many global changes, as it began the decolonisation process of countries ruled by Portuguese authorities until then.
