On December 8, Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This does not refer to Jesus' conception by the Virgin Mary but to the way Mary herself was conceived. In order to become the mother of the Saviour, Catholics believe Mary was made immune from sin at the moment of her conception.
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| A figure representing the devil is pictured during celebrations of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception in Sacatepequez, Guatemala(Johan Ordonez/AFP) |
This holy day is celebrated in many Catholic countries. On the eve of the feast, Guatemalan Catholics burn papier-mache figures of the Devil. This tradition, which began in colonial times, represents getting rid of sin and starting afresh.
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| A figure representing the devil is set ablaze during celebrations for the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception in Guatemala(Johan Ordonez/AFP) |
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| People wearing devils' horns watch as a figure representing the devil is set ablaze(Johan Ordonez/AFP) |
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| A performer dressed as Death sits in a mock coffin in Sacatepequez, Guatemala(Johan Ordonez/AFP) |
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| People disguised as elderly women take part in the dance of 24 devils(Johan Ordonez/AFP) |
Colombians celebrate DÃa de las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles) on the eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Believers place candles and lanterns in their windows, and keep a vigil by the graves of their loved ones.
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| A boy lights candles in Bogota on the holiday that marks the unofficial start of Christmas in the country(John Vizcaino/Reuters) |
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| A man weeps beside the grave of his mother in a cemetery in Cali, Colombia(Luis Robayo/AFP) |
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| A couple stands beside their son's grave, decorated with flowers, lanterns and candles(Luis Robayo/AFP) |
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| A couple keep vigil beside the grave of a relative during celebrations for the Dia de las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles) on the eve of the Immaculate Conception in Cali, Colombia(Luis Robayo/AFP) |
In the western Spanish village of Jarandilla de la Vera, people celebrate the Immaculate Conception by hitting each other with burning brooms.
It is thought that the "Los Escobazos" festival comes from when shepherds came down from the mountains at night to celebrate the Virgin's Conception and would light branches in order to see.
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| A reveller is hit by a man with a burning broom during the Los Escobazos festivial in Jarandilla de la Vera, Spain(Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) |
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| A reveller holds a bottle of alcohol as he passes bonfires in Jarandilla de la Vera, Spain.(Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) |
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| A burning broom is tied to a crucifix at Constitution Square in Jarandilla de la Vera(Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) |
