Every December 8, the Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary is commemorated, a celebration that honors “the purity and grace of Mary of Nazareth, conceived free of original sin and presented as a model of faith and charity”.

In Argentina, this date has been a national holiday since the enactment of Law No. 24,445 on December 23, 1994, promulgated on January 11, 1995, during the presidency of Carlos Saúl Menem.

In 2010, by means of Decree 1584, issued under the presidency of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, its status as a national holiday was reaffirmed. Later, during the presidency of Mauricio Macri, Law No. 27,399 ratified and reinforced the irrevocable nature of this date, highlighting its cultural and religious relevance in the country.

In Argentina, December 8 is also a day that has a particular tradition: many families set up the Nativity Scene and the Christmas tree, kicking off the end-of-year festivities.

The celebration of the date has its origins in the Council of Trent (1545-1563), which established special days to venerate the Virgin Mary, instituting traditions of prayer and religious practices that have endured over time. The formal proclamation of this feast came on December 8, 1854, when Pope Pius IX declared the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in St. Peter's Basilica, marking a milestone in the history of Catholicism.

The first informal celebrations of this date were recorded in Spain around 1644, but global recognition was achieved after the proclamation of Pius IX. On that memorable day, more than 200 bishops, faithful and international representatives participated in Rome, while 300 bells rang in unison and 100 doves, a symbol of faith and hope, were released.