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Catholic
Catholics celebrate 8 December as the day Mary was conceived without original sin — nine months before her birthday on 8 September. It is a Holy Day of Obligation in many countries and marks the start of serious Christmas preparation.
In the USA it is a public holiday; in the UK it is a normal working day but churches hold special Masses. Pilgrims visit Lourdes, where Mary appeared to St Bernadette.
Eden lists Catholic pilgrimages across Europe.
At a glance
- Type
- solemnity
- Date type
- Fixed (same date every year)
- Regions
- Global
- Themes
- Mary
- Liturgical colour
- White, Blue
- Holy Day of Obligation
- Yes (Catholic)
Common questions
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is observed on December 8 (fixed). Moveable feasts shift each year; fixed feasts stay on the same calendar date.
The feast celebrating the Catholic and Anglican doctrine that Mary was conceived without original sin (the "Immaculate Conception"), by a unique divine grace. Defined as a dogma by Pope Pius IX in 1854. This is often confused with the Virgin Birth of Jesus, but is distinct — it refers to Mary's own conception in her mother's womb. The feast is the patronal feast of the United States, Argentina, Br
It is associated with Catholic. It falls in the Advent season of the liturgical year.
