Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Fetes des Lumieres!

Every year millions of people flock to Lyon for the famous Fete des Lumieres (festival of lights).
The tradition is that in the 1600s, the whole area was ravaged by plague, and in 1832 there was a cholera break-out, but both times, Lyon was spared, thanks to Mary's protection (don't ask me why credit was given to Mary and not to God...). So, to thank Mary, it was decided that when the new cathedral was constructed on Fouvriere Hill, there would be a statue to honor her. When the statue was unveiled, there was a terrible storm, but the people of Lyon showed up anyway with lanterns to thank Mary. The city put candles in their windows to show their support.

Although people still put candles in their windows, and there are posters everywhere saying "Merci Marie," the celebration has evolved into a huge light production throughout the city. The actual celebration is on December 8th, but the "lights" were going on since Saturday. There were SO many people, but it was worth fighting the crowd to see what we got to see!

Saturday night we saw:
-Place Saint Jean (our favorite!)
-Place Bellecour
-Place des Jacobins
-Saint Nizier
-Place Louis Pradel
-Place Marechal Lyautey
-Parc de la Tete d'Or
Sunday night we saw:
-Place des Terraux... 2nd favorite
here's a short video from Place des Terreaux also:
-Theatre Celestins
-fireworks on Fouvriere Hill (notice the outline of the basilica behind the fireworks)
-Fouvriere Hill (the path up to the basilica and the "Digital Man" on the Metal Tower)

-Gadagne musuem (which was the biggest let-down... didn't even take a picture)
-Gare Saint Paul (also a let-down... the windows just changed colors)
Monday night I got home late, so I just saw:
-La Tour Oxygene
and non-fete-des-lumieres, but... the Christmas decor at Part Dieu
And last night, we saw:
-the very end of the fireworks over the Rhone
-the outside of Hotel Dieu (the line was too long to go in the courtyard)
-the Prefecture (probably the most confusing)

Click here for all the pictures:
There was still so much that we didn't get to see... peut-etre l'année prochaine??

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