PhilippinesWe're here to help you keep count of the days to or since a date. Just click the button below and enter your chosen date to get started. Also choose the suggested days or search for a special day above #countingthedays
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a significant religious holiday in the Philippines celebrated every December 8th. It honors the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was conceived without original sin.
The Philippines, being predominantly Catholic due to its historical Spanish colonization, places great importance on Marian feasts. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was solemnly defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854, but devotion to Mary's purity existed long before that.
In 1942, Pope Pius XII declared Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception as the Principal Patroness of the Philippines. Since then, Filipinos have celebrated this day with fervor. In 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 10966 into law, declaring December 8 a special non-working holiday to allow more Filipinos to observe the occasion.
On this day:
Church Services: Many attend Masses which are held throughout the day. Churches are often lavishly decorated with flowers in honor of Mary.
Processions: In some areas, statues of the Virgin Mary are taken out in grand processions.
Family Gatherings: Families come together to celebrate with food and festivities.
Community Celebrations: Local governments and church organizations often prepare events such as fairs or concerts.
Charitable Acts: Some devotees engage in acts of charity as a way to honor Mary's purity and compassion.
In general, it is a day marked by both personal piety and communal celebrations reflecting Filipino Catholics' deep devotion to Mary.