Something i know

Day 4,390, 15:24 • Published in USA USA • by flolyon

One of the 2 rivers that pass through Lyon: The Saone


So in my first article i asked if some of you had advice about what to write here.
First advice about that was from hcmadman .
He told me to write something i know.
One of my first ideas was writing something about my city, Lyon. I love traveling and discovering new places and i thought that maybe some of you here were like me. Seems it's at least the case with shiloh13 .

There's a huge event here in a few days, so that's very easy for me to decide what my first words about Lyon will be.


THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS - LA FÊTE DES LUMIÈRES


During that event, the main parts of the city center are "painted" with lights, different artists make it every year.


The official day for that is December the 8th, but it became so important that now it lasts 4 days. This year it will start on the 5th and end on the 8th.
Here is a video about last year:


WHERE IT ALL STARTED - THE LEGEND

In 1643 France was struck by the plague, people in Lyon started praying Mary to prevent it from arriving in their city. Fortunetly it stopped before reaching Lyon. Then people decided to thank Mary for that miracle building a church dedicated to her on the top of the hill, and each year put candles on their windows in Mary's honour on December the 8th.



Many people still put candles on their windows on December the 8th in Lyon


A MODERN VERSION OF THE FESTIVAL

Centuries passed and 20 years ago the mayor decided to make this tradition bigger putting lights on main monuments in the city center.
Nowdays millions of people gather during those 4 days to see this big show of lights.
Next week it starts again to let thousands of eyes shine in our streets. My candles are ready !