When is Mary's Saint's Day in Spain? Mary's Saint's Day is celebrated on a very special day, September 12th, but it is actually celebrated on several other popular dates throughout the year. It is an act of veneration that blends with a religious festival, where many devout people offer their prayers for the fulfillment of their promises.
This feast day is celebrated in various parts of Spain and around the world. The faithful celebrate it, and special masses, prayer services dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and processions are held in different towns and cities. She is also represented as the mother of Jesus, offering protection and blessings to children. Her devotion also reinforces the purity and humility she embodies.
The significance of Mary's feast day is closely linked to the figure of the Virgin Mary , described in Christian tradition as the mother of Jesus. Each date and event associated with her feast day holds great religious and symbolic importance, as she is a central figure in the history of Christianity.
Dates and places where Mary's saint is celebrated in Spain
The key date is September 12th, or the third week of that month. This week often extends into the fourth week. It is celebrated in various parts of Spain; the most popular is the Feast of Our Lady of the Pine in Gran Canaria.
September 12 is also celebrated along with 8 other name days:
- Saint Francis Choe Kyong-hwam.
- Saint Pontius of Serrancolin.
- Our Lady of Estíbaliz.
- Saint Albeus of Emly.
- Saint Curonat, bishop.
- Saint Guido of Anderlech.
- Blessed Pedro Sulpicio Cristóbla Faverge.
- Saint Autonomous of Bithynia.
Devotions to the Virgin Mary are also celebrated on other dates throughout the year, such as the famous Virgin of Pilar on October 12th in Zaragoza, or the Virgin of Almudena on November 9th in Madrid. We will discuss these celebrations in more detail later.
Virgin of Pilar. Source: Wikipedia
Depending on the type of festival and worship, the celebration takes place with different acts. In most cases, it is solemnized with a special mass and processions. In other places, gifts and greetings are added to the festivities, through presents, flower offerings, or small tokens.
Other dates for the Saint of Mary
Other places where we can find its festival on September 12th are: in Segovia , a festival in honor of Our Lady of Henar.
- Barcelona, with the Festivity of the Sweet Name
- Asturias, with the Feast of the Sweet Name of Mary.
Other dates throughout the year in Spain:
- January 1, with the Solemnity of Saint Mary, Mother of God.
- El August 15, with the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, a very popular festival.
- El 7th of October, with the Day of Our Lady of the Rosary.
- December 8, Day of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated throughout Spain.
Feast of the Virgin Mary in Zaragoza
One of Spain's most famous festivals, the Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar is celebrated on October 12th in Zaragoza with massive displays of devotion to her. She is the patron saint of the Hispanic world and the Civil Guard , and the day is filled with floral offerings, cultural events, solemn masses, and processions. Thousands of people flock to the city, either to honor Our Lady of the Pillar or to enjoy the cultural and tourist attractions.
The Assumption of the Virgin
August 15th is celebrated as an important feast day in the Catholic liturgical calendar. This day commemorates the belief that the Virgin Mary was taken up to heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life. It is celebrated in various parts of Spain.
Source: Wikipedia
Other places where the day of the Virgin is celebrated on August 15
One of these places is in Elche, Alicante. It's the Misteri d'Elx, a medieval sacred-lyric drama that depicts the death, assumption, and coronation of the Virgin Mary. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In Baeza, Jaén. A very special and popular day, with a grand procession in honor of the Virgin of the Assumption.
In Madrid, with the Virgin of La Paloma . It is a day of great celebration with processions, cultural activities and religious events.
Cantabria, with Our Lady of Bien Aparecida . It is a festival celebrated in the town of Ampuero, with masses and religious ceremonies.
The Virgin of the Snows in Avilés, Asturias. It is an important celebration with a solemn mass and the traditional procession through the streets of the town.
The Virgin Mary in the Canary Islands
The Virgin of the Pine
This celebration takes place on September 8th in the municipality of Teror, home to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pine . This Virgin is greatly venerated, even serving as the patron saint of the dioceses of the Canary Islands and one of the most important Marian devotions throughout the archipelago. As with all celebrations, it is a day for a grand Mass, processions, and religious ceremonies. It also attracts many pilgrims to the island.
Virgin of the Pine. Source: Wikipedia
The Virgin of Guia
It is celebrated in the municipality of Santa María de Guía, on the third weekend of September. This celebration was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest on December 1, 2009, as the “ Fiesta de Las Marías ”.
Many residents of the surrounding towns celebrated this day as an expression of profound gratitude to Our Lady of Guía . Their devotion has a rich history, stemming from a remarkable miracle in which the Virgin performed, saving the crops from the Berber cicada. The northern region of the island was suffering a devastating plague of this insect. The inhabitants made a vow on Mount Vergara, which elicited an immediate response. Great clouds appeared and unleashed their fury upon the land, sweeping away the plague in a matter of moments. Since this miracle, the people of the region have brought offerings of adoration and the fruits of their labor to Our Lady of Guía every year.
