Our Lady of Aparecida
Guide to the date, history, cultural origins and celebration traditions of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil.
History & Origins of Our Lady of Aparecida
Our Lady of Aparecida (Nossa Senhora Aparecida) is the patron saint of Brazil, celebrated on October 12th. Historically, it commemorates the miraculous 1717 discovery of a small clay statue of the Virgin Mary by three humble fishermen in the Paraíba do Sul River. After casting their nets and finding the broken statue, they suddenly caught an abundance of fish, which was hailed as a miracle.
How It Is Observed & Celebrated
Brazilians celebrate with massive pilgrimages of over 150,000 devotees to the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida (the second-largest church in the world), where special masses, candlelight processions, and children's day festivals are held.
Quick Facts Card
Create Custom Counter
Need a custom countdown clock for Our Lady of Aparecida or another personal event? Create a highly customizable live timer to share or embed.
Event Countdown ToolEmbed This Countdown Widget
Add a live, real-time countdown timer for Our Lady of Aparecida to your own blog, school website, or company intranet. Completely free and highly customizable.