Belo Horizonte is gearing up for an extended holiday period, starting from Thursday, April 17, 2025, through Monday, April 21, 2025, coinciding with both Semana Santa (Holy Week) and the national holiday for Tiradentes. During this time, the city will see various changes in the operation of public services, commercial establishments, and transportation, as outlined by local authorities.
According to the Belo Horizonte Chamber of Store Managers (CDL/BH), all commerce is mandated to close on Good Friday, April 18, 2025. This closure is in line with the labor regulations established in the 2024/2025 Collective Labor Agreement, which prohibits the use of employees for work on this day. However, the situation will differ on Tiradentes Day, April 21, 2025, when commercial establishments can operate normally, provided they adhere to specific labor requirements.
For those businesses choosing to remain open on Tiradentes, several obligations must be met. Shop owners are required to ensure an eight-hour workday with a one-hour break, provide a food allowance of R$44, pay a 70% premium for any overtime worked, and offer a compensatory day off within 60 days. Additionally, transportation vouchers must be provided for employees commuting to work. In shopping malls, stores can only operate from 2 PM to 8 PM on this holiday.
In the supermarket sector, the Minas Gerais Supermarket Association (Amis) has confirmed that supermarkets across Belo Horizonte, as well as in some interior cities, will be allowed to open during both the Semana Santa and Tiradentes holidays. This follows the collective labor agreements established with the Supermarket Workers' Union of Minas Gerais (Sindsuper-MG). On Good Friday and Tiradentes, supermarkets will be open, while Saturday and Easter Sunday will see normal operations.
Public transportation will also adapt to the holiday schedule. BHTrans has announced that buses will operate on an atypical day schedule on Thursday, April 17, with adjustments made to some lines. On Good Friday, a holiday schedule will be implemented, resulting in reduced service frequency compared to regular weekdays. Saturday, April 19, will follow a standard Saturday schedule, while Sunday, April 20, will maintain a reduced service. On Monday, April 21, the city will revert to the holiday schedule due to Tiradentes Day.
Garbage collection and urban cleaning services will also be affected by the holiday. On Thursday, April 17, all cleaning services will operate as usual, including the opening of the Unidades de Recebimento de Pequenos Volumes (URPVs). However, there will be no cleaning services on Good Friday. Normal cleaning operations will resume on Saturday, and household waste collection will be conducted on Tiradentes Day, although selective collection will not take place.
Banking services will be closed on both Good Friday and Tiradentes Day, meaning no in-person banking or transaction processing will occur on these dates. However, electronic transactions via Pix will remain available 24/7. The Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febraban) has stated that bills due on these holidays can be paid without penalty on the next business day, which is Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Health services will see some changes as well. Emergency health services will continue operating without interruption, while other units will have modified hours. Health centers will be open from 7 AM to 5 PM on Thursday, April 17, but will close on Good Friday and Tiradentes Day. The Reference Center for Special Immunobiologicals will have special hours on these days, operating from 8 AM to 6 PM on Friday and Monday.
Unidades de Atendimento Integrado (UAIs) will also experience altered hours during this holiday period. Some UAIs will operate normally on Thursday, April 17, while others will be closed on April 17, 18, and 21. All units are expected to resume regular operations on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
For those looking to enjoy the outdoors, municipal parks, the Zoo, Botanical Garden, and the São Francisco River Aquarium will have special hours during the holiday weekend. The Zoo, Botanical Garden, and Aquarium will be open on Thursday, April 17, Saturday, April 19, and Sunday, April 20, but will be closed on Good Friday and Tiradentes Day. The Zoo and Botanical Garden will operate from 8 AM to 5 PM, while the Aquarium will be open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Shopping malls in Belo Horizonte will also have special operating hours for the holidays. On Good Friday, all stores and kiosks in Grupo Multiplan malls will remain closed, while food courts will operate from 10 AM to 10 PM. On Tiradentes Day, stores will open from 2 PM to 8 PM, with food courts serving from 10 AM to 10 PM.
In addition to these changes, the Minas Shopping will host a traditional Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 19, from 3 PM to 6 PM, aimed at children under 10 years old. This event will feature 350 hidden eggs, providing a fun activity for families during the holiday.
As residents and visitors prepare for this holiday period, it’s crucial to be aware of these changes in service operations to ensure a smooth and enjoyable Semana Santa and Tiradentes holiday.
