Carnation revolution icon Celeste Caeiro passes away at 91
A somber piece of news appeared on platform X regarding Celeste Caeiro's death. The Portuguese woman left an indelible mark on her country's modern history, as her spontaneous gesture became an iconic symbol of the Carnation Revolution in 1974. She passed away on Friday in Lisbon at the age of 91.
5:41 PM EST, November 15, 2024
On Friday, November 15, Portugal learned of the passing of one of its most significant figures in contemporary history. Celeste Caeiro died at the age of 91 in Lisbon. Her gesture emerged as a hallmark of one of the most consequential revolutions in the country's and the world’s history.
Her death was confirmed by her granddaughter Carolina via platform X and by the Portuguese Communist Party, of which Caeiro was a member. On April 25, 1974, she inspired the symbolism of the carnation in the peaceful revolution against dictatorship.
On that day, Caeiro was carrying white and red carnations to the restaurant where she worked, planning to give them to patrons. However, due to the ongoing military coup, the establishment was closed. Rather than returning home, she chose to distribute the flowers to soldiers she encountered on the streets of Lisbon.
The creator of the symbol of the Carnation Revolution has died
Appreciating her gesture, soldiers began placing carnations in the barrels of their rifles. This symbol of peaceful resistance rapidly became the emblem of the revolution that led to the overthrow of Antonio Salazar's right-wing dictatorship, which had ruled the country since the 1920s.
In later years, Caeiro acknowledged that her action was accidental, yet it became a significant symbol for the nation. The Carnation Revolution also sparked numerous global shifts, decolonizing nations previously under Portuguese rule.
