Ceuta Day
Ceuta Day, celebrated in Ceuta on 2 September, is a holiday marking the date when Pedro de Meneses, 1st Count of Vila Real), became the first Governor of Ceuta by King John I of Portugal, following the Conquest of Ceuta.
Legend
with a stick of zambujeiro or Aleo. Hearing all the high nobles making excuses to avoid the job, the young Pedro de Menezes stepped forward and approached the king with his gaming stick The aleo that was used by Pedro is kept in the Church of Santa María de África in Ceuta, the statue of Mary holds the aleo.'Aleu' or 'aleo' can be seen on the coat of arms of Alcoutim and Vila Real, where Pedro's descendants were made Count's of Alcoutim or Count's of Vila Real respectively.