November 1st marks 269 years since the Great Earthquake of 1755, a landmark date in the history of Portugal. To remember this event and raise awareness of the importance of seismic prevention, Quake, an agent for raising awareness about natural disasters, launches the ‘Remember 1755’ initiative which challenges the Portuguese to hang a piece of clothing or a purple flag in their windows.

This is a call to action and an invitation to reflect on the importance of individual and collective preparation for future earthquakes that has the support of the Mayor of Lisbon, the Secretary of State for Civil Protection, the President of the Assembly of the Republic, the fleet of Transtejo Soflusa ships and the Lisbon Firefighters Regiment.

The initiative aims not only to evoke the victims and destruction caused by the earthquake, but also to encourage reflection on the importance of preventing and preparing for future earthquakes. Quake challenged several public and political entities, as well as historical monuments in the Lisbon metropolitan area, to join this appeal, promoting awareness about seismic risk.

The Lisbon Firefighters Regiment, at 9:40 am, the approximate time of the 1755 earthquake, will sound the sirens of the regiment's 11 barracks, in a symbolic act that remembers the day and reinforces the need to be prepared. This chorus is joined by the ships of the Transtejo Soflusa fleet. Also to remember this historic day, Cristo-Rei, on the night of October 31st and November 1st, and the Terreiro do Paço statue, the Lisbon City Council and Quake on the night of October 31st, will be lit up in purple.

"To ignore November 1, 1755, is to forget who we are and where we came from. This date should be remembered as one of the most significant in the lives of the Portuguese. It is not about feeding a cult of misfortune, but about learning from the past for the better face of the future", says Ricardo Clemente, co-founder of Quake – Lisbon Earthquake Museum, “We aim for all citizens to be aware of the security measures and to participate in the initiative in a symbolic act of commitment to a society more prepared to face catastrophes”, he adds.

The 1755 earthquake, followed by a tsunami and fires, devastated Lisbon and other regions of the country and left a deep mark on the collective memory. Quake, committed to providing a public awareness service, considers it crucial to keep the memory of this event alive. Through the ‘Remember 1755’ movement and special sessions taking place on November 1st, the Museum highlights the importance of learning from the lessons of the past to better prepare for the future, especially in a context of increasing global seismic activity.