December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Here are ten facts about this feast day.

1. According to the teaching of the Catholic Church, the Virgin Mary was as free from sin as her son, even though, unlike him, she was conceived in the usual manner. God acted on her soul when she was conceived, keeping her "immaculate". There is also dogma which says Mary's parents would not have taken any pleasure from the process of conception, for it couldn't have worked if they'd enjoyed it.
2. A feast of the conception of Mary was celebrated as early as the 5th century in Syria, and later spread to Europe via the Byzantine area of Southern Italy.
3. It was Pope Clement XI who instigated the feast formally as a day of Solemnity and a Holy Day of Obligation by means of a Papal Bull. Papal Bull Commissi Nobis Divinitus, dated 6 December 1708, to be exact.
4. Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant churches don't accept the Immaculate Conception as part of their doctrine, but some churches do celebrate the conception of Mary as a minor liturgical feast day.
5. Muslims may not celebrate an immaculate conception either, but they do revere Mary as an example of purity, piety and the virtue of motherhood.
6. When December 8 falls on Sunday the feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on 9 December.
7. The day is a national holiday in many countries, especially those which, by Papal Decree, are under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception. These include Argentina, Brazil, Korea, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Philippines, Spain, and Uruguay.
8. Works of art depicting the Immaculate Conception usually show Mary as a young woman standing on a hill with a halo of stars around her head. She will be wearing robes of Blue and White, and may be surrounded by clouds, golden lights, cherubs, lilies or Roses.
9. Across the world, this day is celebrated with processions and fireworks as well as religious observances. In Manila, Philippines, the day is marked with a religious and military parade called the Grand Marian Procession, which ends at Manila Cathedral (which is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception). In Spain, children dress up in jewelled clothes and run through the streets holding a large figure of Mary as high as they can.
10. December 8 is also celebrated as Mother's Day in Panama in honour of this holiday.

What happens when superheroes get together for Christmas! My latest novel. Perfect if you want to lose yourself in a book after Christmas lunch!

A Very Variant Christmas

Last year, Jade and Gloria were embroiled in a bitter conflict to win back their throne and their ancestral home. This year, Queen Jade and Princess Gloria want to host the biggest and best Christmas party ever in their palace. They invite all their friends to come and bring guests. Not even the birth of Jade's heir just before Christmas will stop them.

The guest list includes most of Britain's complement of super-powered crime-fighters, their families and friends. What could possibly go wrong?

Gatecrashers, unexpected arrivals, exploding Christmas crackers and a kidnapping, for starters.

Far away in space, the Constellations, a cosmic peacekeeping force, have suffered a tragic loss. They need to recruit a new member to replace their dead colleague. The two top candidates are both at Jade and Gloria's party. The arrival of the recruitment delegation on Christmas Eve is a surprise for everyone; but their visit means one guest now faces a life-changing decision.

Meanwhile, an alliance of the enemies of various guests at the party has infiltrated the palace; they hide in the dungeon, plotting how best to get rid of the crime-fighters and the royal family once and for all. Problem is, they all have their own agendas and differences of opinion on how to achieve their aims.

Not to mention that this year, the ghosts who walk the corridors of the palace on Christmas Eve will be as surprised by the living as the living are by them.

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