Virgin of Caacupé Day in Paraguay Date in the current year: December 8, 2025
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) is a state holiday in some countries with a predominantly Catholic population such as Panama, Nicaragua, Portugal, Italy, Colombia, and others. There are countries where it is dedicated to a particular image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. For example, Paraguayans observe it as the Day of the Virgin of Caacupé.Caacupé is a city in Paraguay, best known for the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Miracles (Catedral Basílica Nuestra Señora de los Milagros). Inaugurated on December 8, 1765, it is a place of pilgrimage for local believers and the largest sanctuary in Paraguay.
According to legend, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared before local sculptor José, a Guarani Indian, in 1600. When José encountered a group of Mbayá Indians in the woods, he asked the Virgin Mary for protection and promised to carve a wooden sculpture of her in return. The Virgin appeared to him and showed José a tree to hide behind. True to his word, he carved a statue of the Virgin Mary from that same tree.
Decades later, a church was built on the site where José had encountered the Virgin of Caacupé. The Caacupé Cathedral is a minor basilica and the national sanctuary of Paraguay. And the Feast of Immaculate Conception in Paraguay is primarily associated with the Virgin of Caacupé.
Photo by Signals, Wikimedia Commons
- Category
- Public Holidays, Religious Holidays
- Country
- Paraguay
- Tags
- Virgin of Caacupé Day in Paraguay, holidays in Paraguay, public holidays, religious holidays, Immaculate Conception