.jpg/402px-Inmaculada_(Zurbarán).jpg)
[2]
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrates belief in the Immaculate Conception [3] of the Blessed Virgin Mary [4]. It is universally celebrated every December 8, nine months before the birthday of Mary [5], which is celebrated on September 8th.
It is the patronal feast day [6] of the Spain [7], Portugal [8], Nicaragua [9], Brazil [10], the Philippines [11] and the United States of America [12]. It is celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church [13] as well as a few other closely related Christian churches [14].
The feast is often celebrated with grand parades, national processions and cultural festivities in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary [15] and is generally considered a family day, especially in Latin America [16] countries.
Links:
[1] http://www.ctio.noao.edu/noao/content/Feast-Immaculate-Conception
[2] http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Inmaculada_(Zurbarán).jpg/402px-Inmaculada_(Zurbarán).jpg
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_Conception
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessed_Virgin_Mary_(Roman_Catholic)
[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Mary
[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_day
[7] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain
[8] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal
[9] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicaragua
[10] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil
[11] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines
[12] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_of_America
[13] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Church
[14] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_denomination
[15] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessed_Virgin_Mary
[16] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_America