Festival of Lights (Lyon)
festival light french fête de lumières fɛt de lymjɛʁ lyon france popular event originally aimed expressing gratitude toward mary mother jesus around december year unique lyonnaise tradition dictate every house place candle along outside window produce spectacular effect throughout street festival includes activity based light usually last four day peak activity occurring th two main focal point activity typically basilica fourvière lit different colour well place de terreaux host different light show year origin festival date lyon struck plague september municipal councillor échevins promised pay tribute mary town spared ever since solemn procession make way basilica fourvière december feast immaculate conception light candle give offering name mary part event thus commemorates day lyon consecrated virgin mary became popular festival statue virgin mary erected next basilica overlooking city focal point festival statue created renowned sculptor josephhugues fabisch sponsored several notable lyonnais catholic accepted maurice cardinal de bonald inauguration statue due take place september day celebration nativity virgin however flooding saône prevented statue ready archbishop agreement committee lay people therefore chose move date back december lyon december already celebration immaculate conception virgin leading inauguration everything place festivity statue lit flare firework readied launching top fourvière hill marching band set play street prominent catholic time suggested lighting façades home traditionally done major event royal procession military victory however morning big day storm struck lyon master ceremony hastily decided cancel everything push back celebration following sunday end sky cleared people lyon eagerly anticipating event spontaneously lit window descended street lit flare illuminate new statue chapel notredamedefourvière later superseded basilica people sang song cried vive marie late night celebration repeated year year tradition mandate many family lyon keep often along christmas decoration collection stained clear glass candle burnt windowsill december stout fluted candle found shop towards end november night festival light multiple area city reserved pedestrian festival typically feature light show performance food vendor historian note rather misinformed notion people lyon concerning celebration origin confusion thanks given mary well date involved lead people think celebration commemorates establishment basilica notredame de fourvière wish granted plague supposedly struck th century festival draw million people year november six day attack bataclan paris gérard collomb announced cancelation festival national state emergency declared festival limited traditional lumignon candle installation paid tribute victim terrorist attack whose first name displayed building quay continuing risk attack edition festival took place smaller area usual lasted three day instead four security inspection conducted entrance event additional security force provided minister interior lumiere festival official festival website het zestiende lichtfestival van lyon sixteenth light festival lyon nrcnl much full guide lyon festival light