Feast of Light in Lyon (08/12)

The festival of light ( Fête des Lumières ) – the festival of lights – has been held in the French city of Lyon annually since ancient times. During this festival, city residents put candles on the windows, thousands of lamps, lanterns and lamps light on the streets.

The origins of the holiday date back to the middle of the 17th century, when an epidemic of plague raged in Europe. Lyon's city advisers decided to turn to the Virgin Mary for intercession and took on a vow to glorify her. In September, the epidemic in France stopped, never reaching Lyon.

The city kept the promise made to the Virgin Mary. In honor of Our Lady, a statue of gilded bronze was created. The inhabitants of Lyon were to thank the Virgin Mary immediately before her statue.

On the day set for the city holiday ( December 8 ), a thunderstorm broke out, but the Lions were in such an elevated mood, that after its end they nevertheless took to the streets and began to light lights everywhere in honor of Our Lady. So the tradition of illumination began.



The magnitude of the holiday is best indicated by numbers. Every year, about 80 light performances are arranged in Lyon, almost 8 million small candles are lit, several dozen television channels and newspapers cover the holiday, and up to 4 million tourists come to the city on the festival.

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