Immaculate Conception · Eyd-e Leqah-e Motahhar

Culture of origin: Christian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Australia (national) · Canada (federal) · Christianity · France · Germany (nationwide) · United Kingdom (England and Wales) · United States (federal)

The Immaculate Conception is the Catholic teaching that Mary was kept free of original sin from the moment she was conceived in her mother's womb; despite a common belief, it is not about the conception of Jesus. Pope Pius IX defined it as dogma in the bull Ineffabilis Deus on December 8, 1854. It is a holy day of obligation and a public holiday in Italy, Spain, Austria, Malta, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Philippines and other countries. When December 8 is a Sunday of Advent, the Catholic Church keeps it on Monday, December 9, as shown here.