Very little is known about the parents of Our Lady. Most of what we have comes down to us in the way of legend or folklore. The parents of Mary are more celebrated in the Orthodox church than in the Latin and they have much more in the way of tradition about Mary's parents.
"Sts. Joachim and Anna had been married for fifty years, and were barren. They lived devoutly and quietly, using only a third of their income for themselves and giving a third to the poor and a third to the Temple. Joachim had done this since he was 15-years-old, and God multiplied his flocks, so the couple was well provided for. They longed for a child but remained childless into their old age. When they were in Jerusalem to offer sacrifice to God, the High Priest, Issachar, upbraided Joachim, "You are not worthy to offer sacrifice with those childless hands." Others who had children jostled Joachim, thrusting him back as unworthy. In despair, he consulted the geneological records of the tribes of Israel and discovered every righteous man in the nation had been blessed with children, except him. This caused the aged saint great grief, and he and his wife left with heavy hearts. Then the two of them gave themselves to prayer to God that He would work in them the wonder that He had worked in Abraham and Sarah, and give them a child to comfort their old age."
This long quote from an Orthodox source shows us several things.
1. The intervention of God on behalf of the just person
2. The fruits of persistent prayer
3. That nothing is impossible to God
4. That the mockery of others should not deter us
This is a lovely feast for it calls on us to reflect on the life of Mary before she was called by God. The feast also encourages us to reflect on family life and to think of our own family.
Since Mary is our Mother in heaven we feel part of her life, and we join in the joy of her celebrations as her children.
God is family, three persons in one. Our faith is a faith of community, where family and community prayer is central. This feast brings us right back to the family of Jesus, to even before the Annunciation, to the very heart of Mary's own family.
Only our God would think of giving us such a beautiful feast!