The Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Шаблон:Lang-es) was a Catholic Feast that was originally celebrated in Spain, but started to be celebrated in other Catholic countries.[1] It is not on the universal calendar, but is still commemorated on December 18 in some places such as Spain, Portugal, Italy and Poland as well as in a few religious orders. The Dominicans honor Mary under the title of "Our Lady of the Expectation".[2]
The feast owes its origin to the bishops of the tenth Council of Toledo, in 656.[3] The accompanying of the expectant mother of Jesus became a prominent theme that spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Italy during the Middle Ages.[4] A High Mass was sung at a very early hour each morning during the octave, and it became customary that all who were with child would attend, that they might honor Our Lady's Maternity, and seek a blessing upon themselves.[5] "The feast heightens the anticipation of Christmas and makes the last few days of Advent unique opportunities to meditate on what Mary must have been pondering in her heart."[6] It is sometimes joined with a novena beginning on December 16 and ending on Christmas Eve.
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