Rome celebrates Feast of Our Lady of the Snow on August 5

Each year on August 5 the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome hosts the Feast of Our Lady of the Snow, a Catholic celebration that commemorates a legendary summer snowfall on the Esquiline Hill in 352 AD. According to tradition, a wealthy Roman couple and Pope Liberius received a vision of the Virgin Mary directing them to build a church where snow would appear. The next morning a patch of snow was found on the hill, prompting the construction of the basilica, later dedicated by Pope Sixtus III.

The annual ceremony features the scattering of white rose petals over the basilica’s façade, evoking the original “snow.” The site, a UNESCO World Heritage landmark, also houses the tomb of Pope Francis. The feast draws worshippers, tourists, and local residents who pray for protection and blessings.

The observance underscores the enduring Marian devotion in Italy and highlights the historic link between the miracle story and the city’s religious heritage.