One hundred years ago, a lethal epidemic took over the city of Lyons. The inhabitants were so desperate that they decided to go to Notre Dame de Fourvière to beg her to stop the plague. They prayed all day, on december 8th 1896. Notre Dame heard them and achieved a miracle. The epidemic stopped and many people got cured. From then on, the people of Lyons promised to illuminate the city each year on december 8th to thank Her for this miracle.
Nowadays, this custom has become a regional festival and has actually spread all over the Rhône Alpes region. At dusk, people put small candles in coloured glasses in rows on their window sills, shop-keepers decorate their window displays with care and glamour, young people play music in the streets..it is a very lively festival despite the cold.
I can tell you about what happens in the small village where I live: Sail sous Couzan in the Forez.
Several organizations are in charge of the organizing of the festival. This year, the festival commitee and the firemen organized some kind of entertainment.On december 8th, people met outside, admired the illuminated houses and were kindly offered hot wine and hot roast chestnuts.
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