Early history[edit]

The earliest feasts that relate to Mary grew out of the cycle of feasts that celebrated the Nativity of
Jesus. Given that according to the Gospel of Luke (Luke 2:22–40), forty days after the birth of Jesus,
along with the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, Mary was purified according to Jewish customs,
the Feast of the Purification began to be celebrated by the 5th century, and became the Feast
of Simeon in Byzantium.[1]
The origin of Marian feasts is lost to history. Although there are references to specific Marian feasts
introduced into the liturgies in later centuries, there are indications that Christians celebrated Mary
very early on. Methodius, a bishop (died 311) from the 3rd and early 4th century, wrote:
And what shall I conceive, what shall I speak worthy of this day? I am struggling to reach the
inaccessible, for the remembrance of this holy virgin far transcends all words of mine. Wherefore,
since the greatness of the panegyric required completely puts to shame our limited powers, let us
betake ourselves to that hymn which is not beyond our faculties, and boasting in our own unalterable
defeat, let us join the rejoicing chorus of Christ’s flock, who are keeping holy-day. ... We keep
festival, not according to the vain customs of the Greek mythology; we keep a feast which brings
with it no ridiculous or frenzied banqueting of the gods, but which teaches us the wondrous
condescension to us men of the awful glory of Him who is God over all....Do thou, therefore, O lover
of this festival...[2]

A separate feast for Mary, connected with the "Nativity of Jesus" cycle of feasts, originated in the 5th
century, even perhaps before the First Council of Ephesus of 431. It seems certain that the sermon
by Proclus before Nestorius (the Archbishop of Constantinople whose Nestorianism rejected the title
of Theotokos) which began the controversy that lead to the council was about a feast for the Virgin
Mary.[1]
In the 7th and 8th centuries four more Marian feasts were established in the Eastern Church.
Byzantine Emperor Maurice selected August 15 as the date of the feast of Dormition and
Assumption. The feast of the Nativity of Mary was perhaps started in the first half of the 7th century
in the Eastern Church. In the Western Church a feast dedicated to Mary, just before Christmas was
celebrated in the Churches of Milan and Ravenna in Italy in the 7th century. The four Roman Marian
feasts of Purification, Annunciation, Assumption and Nativity of Mary were gradually and sporadically
introduced into England and by the 11th century were being celebrated there. [1]

Development of feasts[edit]
Over time, the number and nature of feasts (and the associated Titles of Mary) and the venerative
practices that accompany them have varied a great deal among diverse Christian traditions. Overall,
there are significantly more titles, feasts and venerative Marian practices among Roman
Catholics than any other Christians traditions.[3]
Some differences in feasts originate from doctrinal issues – the Feast of the Assumption is such an
example. Given that there is no agreement among all Christians on the circumstances of the death,
Dormition or Assumption of Mary, the feast of assumption is celebrated among some denominations
and not others.[4][5] In his early years, Martin Lutherused to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption, but
towards the end of his life he stopped celebrating it. [6]
While the Western Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Assumption on August 15, some Eastern
Catholics celebrate it as Dormition of the Mother of God, and may do so on August 28, if they follow
the Julian calendar. The Eastern Orthodox also celebrate it as the Dormition of the Mother of God,
one of their 12 Great Feasts. The Armenian Apostolic Churchcelebrates the Feast of Dormition not
on a fixed date, but on the Sunday nearest August 15. Moreover, the practices apart from doctrinal
differences also vary, e.g. for the Eastern Orthodox the feast is preceded by the 14-day Dormition
Fast.
Feasts continue to be developed, e.g. the feast of the Queenship of Mary was declared in the 1954
in the papal encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam by pope Pius XII.[7] The initial ceremony for this feast
involved the crowning of the Salus Populi Romani icon of the Virgin Mary in Rome by Pius XII as
part of a procession in Rome, and is unique to Roman Catholics. [8]
Other differences in feasts relate to specific events that occurred in history. For instance, the Feast
of Our Lady of Victory (later renamed Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary) was based on the 1571
victory of the Papal States against the Ottoman Empire in the Battle of Lepanto, is hence unique to
Roman Catholics.[9][10]

In the Catholic Church[edit]

Marian art is at times used to reflect Marian feasts. This statue of Our Lady of Sorrowsin the hermitage
church of Warfhuizen, the Netherlands, is dressed for the month of October.

A series of articles on

Mariology

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The most prominent Marian feast days in the General Roman Calendar are: [11]

 January 1 Mary, the Holy Mother of God

 March 25 The Annunciation of the Lord (it may be either moved to the day before Palm
Sunday should this date be on Holy Week; or to the Monday after the second Sunday
of Easter if this date falls on either Friday or Saturday of Holy Week or during Easter Week [12])
 May 31 The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
 Monday after Pentecost – The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
 9 days after Corpus Christi – The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
 August 15 The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
 August 22 The Queenship of Mary
 September 8 The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
 September 15 Our Lady of Sorrows
 October 7 Our Lady of the Rosary
 November 21 The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
 December 8 The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Note: Solemnities and feasts are in bold face. Memorials are in the regular face.
Optional Marian memorials in the General Roman Calendar are:

 February 11 Our Lady of Lourdes

 May 13 Our Lady of Fatima
 July 16 Our Lady of Mount Carmel
 August 5 Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major
 September 12 The Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary
 December 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe
Note: There are many more Marian commemorations celebrated in various localities, but not
included in the General Roman Calendar.
During the month of May, May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary take place in many Catholic
regions. There is no firm structure as to the content of a May devotion. It includes usually the singing
of Marian anthems, readings from the Scriptures, a sermon or a presentation by local choirs. The
whole rosary is prayed separately and is usually not a part of a Marian devotion, although Hail
Mary's are included. The devotion was promoted by the Jesuits and spread to Jesuit colleges and to
the entire Latin Church and since that time it has been a regular feature of Catholic life. [13] Marian
devotions may be held within the family, around a "May Altar" consisting of a table with a Marian
picture decorated with many May flowers. The family would then pray together the rosary.[14] May
devotions exist in the entire Latin church and since that time have been a regular feature of Catholic
life.[15]
Traditionally, the month of October is "rosary month" in the Catholic Church, when the faithful are
encouraged to pray the rosary if possible. Since 1571, Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary, is venerated
on October 7.[16] Pope Benedict XVI, following all his predecessors, also encourages the rosary
during the month of October:
The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, the unique contemplative prayer
through which, guided by the Lord's Heavenly Mother, we fix our gaze on the face of the
Redeemer in order to be conformed to his joyful, light-filled, sorrowful and glorious mysteries.
This ancient prayer is having a providential revival, thanks also to the example and teaching
of the beloved Pope John Paul II. I invite you to reread his Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis
Mariae and to put into practice its directions on the personal, family and community levels. [17]

In the Eastern Orthodox Church[edit]

Among the most prominent Marian feast days in the Eastern Orthodox and Greek-
Catholic liturgical calendars are:

 February 2 Purification of the Most Holy Theotokos

 March 25 Annunciation of the Theotokos
 August 15 Dormition of the Mother of God
 September 8 Nativity of the Theotokos
 October 1 Protection of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary
 November 21 The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple
 December 9 Feast of the Conception of the Most Holy Theotokos
 December 26 Synaxis of the Theotokos
Note: Feasts ranked among the twelve Great Feasts are in bold face. Minor feasts are in
regular face.

In the Oriental Orthodox Church[edit]

In the Coptic Orthodox rite St. Mary is commemorated on the 21st of each coptic
month (Generally the 30th/31st of each Gregorian month).
 January 22 Wedding at Cana
 January 29 Dormition of Saint Mary, the Theotokos
 April 2 Apparition of Saint Mary in the Church of Zeitoun
 April 7 Annunciation of the Birth of Christ
 May 9 Birth of Saint Mary
 June 1 Entry of the Lord Christ into Egypt
 June 28 Commemoration of the First Church for the Virgin Mary in the City of Philippi
 August 13 Annunciation of the Birth of Saint Mary
 August 22 Assumption of the Body of Saint Mary
 December 13 Entrance of Saint Mary into the Temple at Jerusalem

In the Anglican Communion[edit]

In calendars throughout the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglican churches, the
following Marian feasts may be observed, although the practice of different provinces / churches
varies wildly:[18]

 February 2 Purification of the Blessed Virgin

 February 11 Our Lady of Lourdes[19]
 March 25 Annunciation of Our Saviour to the Blessed Virgin Mary (Lady Day)
 May 1 Queen of Heaven
 May 31 Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
 August 15 Falling Asleep of the Blessed Virgin Mary
 September 8 Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
 October 15 Our Lady of Walsingham (Catholics feast on September 24, as of 2001)[20][21]
 December 8 Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In Lutheranism[edit]
The following are Marian festivals celebrated within the Lutheran liturgical calendar:

 February 2 Presentation of the Lord

 March 25 Annunciation of Our Lord
 May 31 The Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth
 August 15 Mary, Mother of Our Lord[22][23][24]
When Johann Sebastian Bach worked as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, three Marian feasts were
observed for which he composed church cantatas:

 February 2 Purification
 March 25 Annunciation
 July 2 Visitation