The Feast of the Birth of Mary has been celebrated by the Church since the early sixth century. The date of the feast follows Traditions of the Eastern Church which begin their liturgical year on this date. This date also is the anniversary of the dedication of a basilica in Jerusalem built, according to tradition, over the home of Anne, Mary's mother. By using this date for the Birth of Mary, the Church calculated December 8 as the date of Mary's Immaculate Conception.
There is no scriptural evidence of this feast, but there is traditional evidence for it. The apocryphal "Protoevangelium of James" provides textual evidence to the legends surrounding the conception and birth of Mary. According to this account, Joachim and Anne are infertile and pray to God for a child. God answers their prayers and promises them a child who will advance God's plan of salvation for the world. Stories such as this stress the continual special presence of God in Mary's life.
