Each year, the Festival of Light has a new theme. This year’s theme is l’âme de Lyon, which means “the soul of Lyon.” Each of the light displays shows the history, symbols, and traditions that make the city unique.
These light displays are set up at famous places in Lyon such as Place des Terreaux, Parc de la Tête d’Or, Place de Jacobins, Cathédral Saint-Jean, and Fourvière. Over the weekend, I explored the festival with my roommates and friends, so as we walked around enjoying the light shows in each spot, we were able to take a little tour of the city!
The Fête des Lumières (Festival of Lights) is a very old tradition in Lyon that has been celebrated for 173 years. The tradition began on December 8th, 1852, when something surprising happened in the city. The people of Lyon were planning a big celebration on Fourvière Hill (a famous spot in the city, pronounced “foor-vee-air"). That night, there was a huge thunderstorm and it looked like the celebration would have to be canceled. Suddenly, the rain stopped and the sky cleared! The people of Lyon were so happy that they placed candles in their windows to celebrate their good luck, and soon the entire city was glowing with the small lights.
Ever since that night, the people of Lyon have continued the tradition of lighting up the city every December. Today, the Festival of Lights includes big, colorful light displays, but many locals still celebrate the history of the festival by putting lumignons (small candles, pronounced “loo-mee-nyon”) in their windows.
