Lady of Sorrows' Day
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Lady of Sorrows’ Day, or “Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Day”, is a public holiday in Slovakia that falls on every 15 September. This is a Roman Catholic holiday that has been celebrated since the 17th Century but was only an official feast day starting in 1814. In 2026, Lady of Sorrows' Day falls on Tuesday 15 September. The holiday will be on Wednesday 15 September in 2027. The date of the religious feast was originally the third Sunday of September, but this was adjusted to a fixed date on 15 September in 1913 by Pope Pius X. In 1927, “Our Lady of Seven Sorrows” was designated as Slovakia’s patron saint, and in 1964, the shrine of the same name was declared to have “basilica status”. Every 15 September, a special mass is held in the Basilica of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, which is located in the town of Sastin-Straze. The basis of the day and its name is the “seven sorrows of the Virgin Mary” officially designated by the church. These are as follows: Many in Slovakia go on pilgrimage to Sastin to the shrine on Lady of Sorrows’ Day to reflect on the sorrows of Mary’s life and to attend the special services. Others attend a special mass at their local church.
History
This is a Roman Catholic holiday that has been celebrated since the 17th Century but was only an official feast day starting in 1814. The date of the religious feast was originally the third Sunday of September, but this was adjusted to a fixed date on 15 September in 1913 by Pope Pius X
How It's Celebrated
Lady of Sorrows’ Day, or “Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Day”, is a public holiday in Slovakia that falls on every 15 September. This is a Roman Catholic holiday that has been celebrated since the 17th Century but was only an official feast day starting in 1814. The holiday will be on Wednesday 15 Septem