Neapolitan traditions linked to 8 December
The cult of the Immaculate Conception
8 December, the day dedicated to the feast of the Immaculate Conception, marks the culmination of Advent and the official start of the Christmas festivities. It is an anniversary that is particularly felt in Italy, and especially in Naples, where traditions and rituals have been consolidated over the centuries and continue to represent one of the most significant events of the Christmas season in the Neapolitan city. It is no coincidence that, on this date, the setting up of Christmas trees and nativity scenes is also celebrated. So let us delve into some details – that you may not know – about the feast of the Immaculate Conception in Naples.
Dogma of the Immaculate Conception
On 8 December, the Church celebrates the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, proclaimed in 1854 by Pope Pius IX with the bull ‘Ineffabilis Deus’. It honours Mary’s conception – without original sin – in the womb of St Anne, and not the conception of Jesus, as is often mistakenly believed.
The traditional laying of the wreath on the spire in Piazza del Gesù
In Naples, the cult of the Immaculate Conception has always been particularly alive. Among the most emblematic traditions is the ceremony that takes place every 8 December around the Baroque obelisk in Piazza del Gesù, known as the Immaculate Conception Spire, erected in honour of the Virgin Mary. On this date, the firemen – in the presence of the civil and religious authorities – place a bundle of flowers in the hands of the Virgin, ascending 30 metres to pay homage to her. This monument, a symbol of Marian devotion, was inaugurated on 7 December 1747 at the request of Jesuit Father Francesco Pepe.
Other places of worship and pilgrimage dedicated to the Virgin
Another pilgrimage site – also in the historic centre of Naples – is the Basilica Santuario del Gesù Vecchio dell’Immacolata di Don Placido, better known as the Church of the Old Jesus, which welcomes crowds of devotees and the curious on 8 December. But Naples boasts numerous churches dedicated to the cult of the Immaculate Conception that celebrate the feast in a special way. One of these is the Church of Santa Maria Apparente, whose name derives from a miraculous episode linked to an apparition of light that, according to tradition, guided fishermen lost in a stormy night to salvation. Finally, since 8 December also marks the start of the preparations for Christmas, a stroll through the craft workshops of San Gregorio Armeno – in the heart of the historical centre – is recommended, where you can admire and choose from some of the most beautiful nativity scenes in the world.