Each year on the evening of December 8 marks the Festival of Lights inLyon . During this event spread over four days, the former capital of the Gauls sees several million visitors coming from all over the world to visit the illuminated city. Although this popular event was originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the illuminations will give it a different character and make it part of Lyon's heritage.
Origin of the Festival of Lights in Lyon
The city of Lyon is placed under the protection of the Virgin Mary and venerates her since 1643, the year in which the south of France was affected by the plague . The epidemic is terrible, several thousand people from Lyon die of this disease and half of the population of Lyon disappears. In desperation, the Prévost Alexandre Mascary, surrounded by the deputy mayors of the time, relies on the Virgin Mary and promises to pay homage to her each year if the plague stops. The epidemic stopped that year in Lyon and the people of Lyon then kept their promise. Originally, it was on September 8, the feast of his Nativity, that the municipal authorities paid homage to him with the ceremony of the Vow of the Aldermen.
Since their first Vow, the people of Lyon have taken to asking for the intercession of the Virgin and they frequently go to the top of the Fourvière hill in a small church which dominates the city. This first church, dedicated to the Virgin, was built in Fourvière in 1168. Ravaged during the religious wars in 1562, it was restored several times. However, from 1830 the question arose of the restoration of its bell tower. Completed in 1849, on this one is placed a colossal golden Virgin executed by the Lyon sculptor Joseph Fabish.
The illuminations of December 8
Originally, the date planned for the inauguration ceremony of the statue of the Virgin on the new bell tower was September 8, 1852, a date which symbolizes the feast of the Nativity and which corresponds to the commemoration of the Vow of the aldermen. However, due to floods of the Saône which hit the workshop of the founder of the statue, the inauguration is postponed. We then choose the date of December 8 , which marks the Feast of the Immaculate Conception . The same day, the statue is put in place but the festivities (procession and fireworks) are threatened by terrible storms and the Saône threatens again.
The storm eventually passes and the city lights up with lights placed in the windows of buildings by Lyon Catholics. This enlightenment is at the origin of the Festival of Lights every December 8 in Lyon . What was originally a gesture of Faith, however, will be diluted in the secular heritage of Lyon and the fact of putting a few candles in the window on December 8 will be perpetuated in all families, all religions combined.
From a religious festival to a popular festival
In 1989, the lighting of heritage sites, landscapes of rivers and hills, neighborhoods and roads adorned the entire city and contributed to the living environment nightlife and the beauty of the territory. Since 1999, the Festival of Lights takes place over a four-day period during which several million people will stroll throughout the city.
Every year the festival of lights breaks many records. For the 2014 edition, 80 lighting projects will be unveiled, 8 million candle lights will be sold in Greater Lyon and the hotel park will probably be full for the 4 days. By tradition and because of its religious origin, the Festival of Lights is generous and each year a charity association is invited for the operation "Les Lumignons du Coeur" which allows visitors to buy a candle and participate in the luminous fresco. giantess. The funds collected are entirely donated to the association.
In 2013, the city welcomed 310 journalists from all over the world because today, the small popular festival in Lyon is recognized internationally and other major cities around the world have their festival of lights such as Dubai, Turin, Montreal or Rio de Janeiro.
Highlighting the City of Lyon
The four corners of the city are illuminated each year from December 5 to 8, so take your time to admire the wonders that will be presented to you in the streets of Lyon. Between Saône and Rhône, after hurtling down the traboules of the Pentes de la Croix-Rousses, set off to discover the monuments and emblematic squares of the Presqu'île:from the Place des Terreaux and its Bartholdi fountain to Bellecour, don't forget to pass by the Célestins theater and the place de la République, the route starts from the Parc de la Tête d'Or and ends on the place Bellecour.
If you are curious and want to discover Lyon's urban novelties, a second route starts from this same square and takes you to Confluence. Finally, what would Lyon be without its Renaissance district? Cross the Saône to discover the magnificent illuminations of Saint Jean Cathedral and Saint Paul train station in old Lyon. For a sumptuous panorama of the city, go to the hill of Fourvière to contemplate Lyon from the Basilica.
While these courses are there to give you ideas, don't forget that you are above all free to do as you see fit and above all, take your time to enjoy each of the lighting projects that will be presented to you
To go further
- To find out about the program, activities and routes offered for the Festival of Lights 2019, go to the official Festival of Lights website.
- Lights of Lyon:December 8 Festival of Lights. Elah, 2014.
- If the lights were told to me:Lyon, festival of lights, by Philippe Chabbouh. Bellier, 2008.