Celeste Caeiro, namesake of Portugal's Carnation Revolution, dead at 92

​​​​​​​By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - Celeste Caeiro, the woman who gave her name to Portugal's Carnation Revolution, which ended the dictatorship era, died Friday at the age of 92.

Caeiro's granddaughter, Carolina Caeiro Fontela, announced her death on X. "Forever my grandmother Celeste. Watch over me," she wrote.

The Portuguese Communist Party and the Portuguese News Agency (LUSA) said she died in a hospital in the city of Leiria.

On April 25, 1974, following half a century of dictatorship under Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, a coup led by the armed forces took place. Celeste Caeiro placed a carnation in the barrel of a soldier's rifle on the streets, inspiring others to do the same and that act gave the revolution its iconic name, the Carnation Revolution.

Caeiro was working in a bar in Lisbon at the time. Since the bar was closed that morning due to the coup, she took the flowers from the establishment at her boss' request.

With the participation of workers, the military coup transformed into a people's revolution. The Carnation Revolution marked the beginning of a period of change and transition to democracy in Portugal.​​​​​​​