Fête des lumières (Festival of Lights) 2010 (Lyon - France)
(EN) The Festival of Lights (French: Fête des lumières) in Lyon, France expresses gratitude toward Mary, mother of Jesus on December 8 of each year. This uniquely Lyonnaise tradition dictates that every house place candles along the outsides of all the windows to produce a spectacular effect throughout the streets. The festival, which includes other activities based on light, usually lasts 4 days, with the peak of activity occurring on the 8th. The two main focal points of activity are typically the Basilica of Fourvière which is lit up in different colours, and the Place des Terreaux, which hosts a different light show each year.
The origins of the festival date to 1643 when Lyon was struck by plague.The municipal councillors (échevins) promised to pay tribute to Mary if the town was spared. Ever since, a solemn procession makes its way to the Basilica of Fourvière on this day to light candles and give offerings in the name of Mary. The event thus commemorates the day Lyon was consecrated to the Virgin Mary.
In 1852, it became a popular festival when a statue of the Virgin Mary was erected next to the Basilica, overlooking the city. Now a focal point of the festival, the statue was created by the renowned sculptor Fabisch and was sponsored by several notable Lyonnais Catholics. It was then accepted by Maurice Cardinal de Bonald in 1850. The inauguration of the statue was due to take place on September 8, 1852, the day of celebration of the Virgin . However, the flooding of the Saône prevented the statue from being ready. The archbishop, with the agreement of a committee of lay people, therefore chose to move the date back to the 8 December.
By 1852 in Lyon, December 8 had already been a celebration for the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin. Leading up to the inauguration, everything was in place for the festivities: The statue was lit up with flares, fireworks were readied for launching from the top of Fourvière Hill and marching bands were set to play in the streets. The prominent Catholics of the time suggested lighting up the façades of their homes as was traditionally done for major events such as royal processions and military victories.
However, on the morning of the big day, a storm struck Lyon. The master of ceremonies hastily decided to cancel everything and to push back the celebrations once more to the following Sunday. In the end the skies cleared and the people of Lyon, who had been eagerly anticipating the event, spontaneously lit up their windows, descended into the streets and lit flares to illuminate the new statue and the Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Fourvière, later superseded by the Basilica. The people sang songs and cried Vive Marie! until late in the night. This celebration was then repeated from year to year.
Thus, tradition now dictates that every family in Lyon keep, along with its Christmas decorations, a collection of stained or clear glass in which candles are burnt on windowsills on the 8th of December. These stout, cinnamon-coated candles can be found in shops towards the end of November.
Nowadays, the city's council puts on professionally-run performances. The people of Lyon's participation remains strong as evidenced by numerous façades lit up in the traditional way and by the throngs of people wandering the streets on December 8.
Historians and sociologists note the rather misinformed notions that the people of Lyon have concerning the celebration's origins: confusion over the thanks given to Mary, as well as the dates involved, leads people to think the celebration commemorates the establishment of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière or a wish granted after a plague supposedly struck in the 19th century. (Wikipedia)
Map for tourists:
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ACTUA DRONE et Notre Dame de Pipet - Vienne - Isère - France
Le mont Pipet, dominant le paysage viennois, est situé près de l'ancienne voie gauloise vers l'est, aujourd'hui la rue Pipet. Son sommet est aménagé à l'époque romaine en plate-forme terminée à l'est par un hémicycle de 125 sur 87 m, avec d'importants murs de soutènement encore visibles. Cette aire sacrée avec des temples forme un axe monumental avec le théâtre et le forum en contrebas.
Le site, transformé par les rois de Bourgogne au début du Moyen Âge en forteresse avec un donjon carré, est remis à l'Église de Vienne en 1023. À partir de 1285, il est en possession des chanoines de la cathédrale, alors que sur le mont Salomon, le nouveau château de la Bâtie appartient à l'archevêque.
Au XIVe et XVe siècles, la forteresse est un enjeu dans les conflits entre les chanoines, l'archevêque et le dauphin. Au XVIe siècle, elle est disputée au cours des guerres de religion et pendant la guerre entre les Ligueurs et le roi Henri IV. La politique du cardinal de Richelieu contre les derniers féodaux et les huguenots aboutit a un arrêt de 1633 ordonnant la destruction des places fortes du Dauphiné. Les fortifications de Pipet et de la Bâtie sont abattues.
Au XIXe siècle, ce haut-lieu est consacré par les Viennois à la Vierge Marie, avec l'installation en 1858 d'une statue sur une tour en briques, puis la construction en 1873 d'une chapelle de pèlerinage en l'honneur de Notre-Dame de La Salette.
Merci aux Pères Berthier et Ekumbi d'avoir accepté le tournage sur ce magnifique lieu privé, et de m'avoir offert un accueil très chaleureux.
Nous remercions à nouveau Grégoire Lourme pour sa magnifique musique tellement agréable (gregoirelourme.com).
Le drone n'est pas un jouet, mais un aéronef télépiloté dont la pratique est encadrée par un certain nombre de conditions, mais également de bon sens.
Contactez ACTUA DRONE au 0682945084 pour filmer vos mariages, films d'entreprises, défis sportifs, événements, clip vidéo, patrimoine, toitures, book pour couples, sécuriser des manifestations, filmer des entrainements de sportifs-forces de l'ordre-pompiers-militaires,...sur Lyon, Rhône-Alpes ou toute la France.