Fiesta de La Inmaculada Concepción

On December 8th, the Catholic Church celebrates the fiestas of ‘La Inmaculada Concepción de la Virgen María’ the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. This is a dogma proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854 that declares that the Virgin Mary was immune of all stains of the original sin from the very moment of her conception. The devotion for La Virgen María is still very popular in many Spanish speaking countries. In Spain the 8th December is a national holiday called El Día de la Inmaculada which translates to ‘The Day of the Immaculate Virgin’, or La Fiestas de La Purísima ‘The Feast of the Most Pure’.

Traditions and celebrations vary from one community to another, but usually the celebrations have a religious and a social component with a solemn mass in the honor of the Virgin, firework displays, a parade among other organised social events. In the beautiful city of Valencia, ‘las cofradías de las Hijas de María’ which is translated to ‘the sisterhood of the Daughters of Mary’ are the the protagonists of the procesions and celebrations. Every year up to twelve single women of around eighteen years old sign up to become members of the sisterhood, loyal to the devotion of the Virgin Mary in their local parish. For the following 12 months ‘las clavariesas’ the name that these young women are given will participate in the parish activities and they will help raise the money to pay for the celebrations of December 8tht. During the celebrations of December 8th each young women will be accompanied to  the various gatherings and celebrations by a young man of their choosing, usually a boyfriend, a brother, a friend or a cousin.

The outfits of the ‘Las clavariesas’ is of considerable importance. Each ‘clavariesa’ dons a black dress and upon her head she will wear a ‘teja y mantilla’ a comb holding up a piece of lace. Spain is not as religious a country as it once was and certain religious festivities are kept going mainly as traditions and cultural gatherings. The ‘La Inmaculada Concepcion de la Virgen Maria’ is a special time of year on the Spanish calendar that brings friends, family and communities together for days of festivities and celebrations.

The fiesta of La Inmaculada concepcion de la Virgen Maria is the perfect kick off to month packed filled with fiestas and celebrations and in a time where we seem to be moving away from traditions this is a steadfast festival that has been and will be celebrated for years to come.