The Fátima apparitions refer to a series of events that occurred in 1917 in Fátima, Portugal, where three shepherd children—Lucia dos Santos, Jacinta Marto, and Francisco Marto—reported seeing visions of the Virgin Mary. These apparitions took place on the 13th of each month from May to October, during which the children claimed to receive messages about prayer, penance, and the importance of faith. The most notable event was the Miracle of the Sun, which occurred on October 13, 1917, when thousands of people gathered and witnessed a phenomenon where the sun appeared to dance in the sky. The Fátima apparitions have since become significant in the Catholic Church, leading to the beatification of Jacinta and Francisco and the canonization of Lucia.