December 8th is the day on which many traditionally prepare the Christmas tree or nativity scene. These traditions in Italy, even in 2024, are linked to the so-called “Festa dell’Immacolata”.

We celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a Catholic holy day, with a national public holiday on December 8. This year, the holiday falls on a Sunday, so it will not affect Italian schools or public offices. One of the main events related to the day in Italy is the Pope’s pilgrimage to the statue of the Madonna in Piazza Mignanelli in Rome. According to a tradition dating back to 1958, the Pope will leave a wreath of flowers at the base of the 19th-century Column of the Immaculate Conception in the square. The firefighters will also place a wreath of flowers on top of the 12-meter-tall statue of the Madonna. Pope Francis is expected to visit the statue near the Spanish Steps at 4 pm. Another Roman tradition linked to December 8th is the lighting of the capital’s Christmas tree.

Why is December 8th the feast of the Immaculate Conception?

According to the Christian religion, all people are born “stained” by original sin, and, therefore, Mary should also be affected by it. This, however, would mean that the son of God was incarnated in a non-pure body, which would create some theological problems.  The dogma of the Immaculate Conception means that, ever since she was conceived by her mother, Anna, Mary was “preserved” from original sin, unlike all other human beings. The expression “immaculate conception” means “conception without blemish” (referring to the conception of Mary).

The question relates to how Mary was conceived, but the canonical gospels and most of the Apocrypha do not dwell on the question. A “solution” was proposed by Augustine of Hippo, who lived between the 4th and 5th centuries, arguing that although Mary was born stained by sin, she had been redeemed from it at the moment of Jesus’ conception. Augustine’s thesis was widely followed in the late period -ancient and medieval. In the 13th century, however, the British theologian Duns Scotus supported another theory: Mary was free of original sin from conception. This meant that she was not a “carrier” of sin. Scotus’ thesis divided Christians into “macho-lists”, according to whom Mary was conceived with sin and then redeemed, and “immaculate”, according to whom she was already conceived without sin.

In the 19th century, Pope Pius IX resolved the issue definitively. In 1849, he issued the encyclical Ubi Primum, inviting the bishops to express their opinion. The large majority declared themselves in favour of the “immaculist” thesis. In 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed that the Immaculate Conception is an indisputable truth. On 8 December 1854, he issued the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus, in which he stated: “The most blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception, by a grace and a singular privilege of almighty God, in anticipation of the merits of Jesus Christ, saviour of the race human, has been preserved intact from every stain of original sin.”

December 8 is the day Mary was conceived. According to Christian tradition, the birth occurred on September 8, nine months later. Therefore, the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on December 8th. The dogma, however, was rejected by Orthodox Christianity, which is faithful to the thesis according to which Mary was redeemed from original sin only when she conceived Jesus and by Protestant confessions, according to which Mary is the “bearer” of original sin like other men. It is “holy” only because it has been touched by grace.

The cult and traditions of the Immaculate Conception

After the proclamation of the dogma, the cult of the Immaculate Conception, which had already existed previously, spread to a greater extent. In 1857, when Rome was still the capital of the Papal State, Pius IX had a column erected in Piazza Mignanelli in honour of the Immaculate Conception, which today is the object of veneration on 8 December.

The Column of the Immaculate Conception. Credits: Mattes.

The anniversary, however, is recognised as a national holiday only in some Catholic countries, including Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, the Philippines and several Latin American states. In these countries, some traditions associated with the Immaculate Conception have established themselves: first of all, the anniversary is considered the day on which the Christmas decorations are set up, although today, for commercial reasons, the start of the Christmas season is generally brought forward, at least in public places; Furthermore, in some areas, the customs of setting up large bonfires on the day of the Immaculate Conception or preparing certain dishes have spread. In other Catholic countries, as well as throughout the Protestant, Orthodox or follower of other religions world, December 8 is a typical working day.