'Fête des Lumières' Light Festival in Lyon

[camille1585]

Hi, I thought that I would share with you one of my favorite days of the year. December 8th is a very special day in Lyon, France. Everyone puts candles in colorful cups on their window sills, and the entire city is lit up and there as super beautiful light animations and performers out in the streets.Nowadays for commercial reasons the animations last 4 days, but the candles are only the 8th! I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I do!!!

This tradition dates back to dec 8th 1852, when the city was inaugurating the statue of the virgin mary on the cathedral. There had been very heavy rain for many days before dec 8th, and the inhabitants of Lyon prayed for the rain to stop so they could inaugurate their statue. Miraculously, the rain stopped only hours before planned time,and to show their thanks to Mary everyone put candles in their windows.