Over time, the roots of the December 8 festivities, between the plague, there war against Prussia and the’inauguration of Fourvière, are mixed up in collective memories. Despite the official narrative and tradition, forgotten events contributed to giving birth to the Festival of Lights.
It's not the plague.
This is not a war against Prussia
The real reason
At the end of the 1840s, the church of Fourvière was in a sorry state, having suffered the ravages of time as well as the aftermath of various bombardments during the Revolution and the Canut revolts. Without any direct connection to a request or vow made to Mary, the ecclesiastical authorities decided to rebuild the bell tower on a more imposing scale. To complete this project, the idea of adding an imposing statue of the Virgin, five meters high and overlooking the town, was adopted. A competition was launched for this project, which was won by the sculptor... Fabisch.
The date of the inauguration then sparked debate and discussion. It was essential that the day of the inauguration coincide with a Marian feast day. Thus, the religious authorities opted for the next Marian celebration on the calendar: September 8th. Despite meticulous planning, weather conditions repeatedly disrupted the events. During the summer of 1852, devastating floods engulfed the city, impacting the foundry workshop responsible for the statue. The decision was then made to postpone the festivities to the next Marian feast day! December 8th, the day of the conception of the virgin according to the Bible, is then chosen as a fallback solution.
Already a business
The long-awaited date is fast approaching. Religious authorities intend to mark this special day by using pyrotechnics and Bengal lights to illuminate the statue. Private illuminations are expected to be the highlight of the event. Newspapers of the time praise the vendors of lanterns and other lighting, some even going so far as to place advertisements in the press, thus signaling the beginning of a commercial dimension to the festival. It should be noted that, on December 2nd, Napoleon proclaims the Second Empire, and some illuminations Masses are planned throughout France for December 5th. However, Lyon largely ignores this trend: the working class, descended from the silk weavers, refuses to pay homage to the man they consider to have distorted their revolution, and the religious authorities are primarily focused on the upcoming December 8th. Consequently, candles and votive lights are being reserved for the planned event.
The people decide, the church follows
The weather once again played a crucial role. On December 8th, powerful thunderstorms broke out. Faced with this situation, the religious authorities decided to postpone the festivities until the following Sunday, the 12th, and asked the faithful to abstain. However, the inhabitants of Lyon refused to be dictated to any longer. After three months of waiting, their resolve was firm: they would follow the original plan. On the evening of the 8th, the clouds dissipated as candlelight emerged from windows. The population flooded the streets, and shops offering Christmas lights were besieged. The dynamic shifted: it was no longer the religious authorities dictating the course of events to the city, but the other way around. Faced with this, they had no choice but to follow the trend and ultimately illuminated the Fourvière chapel.
As for the official celebrations, they take place on December 12 and continue until the 19th. However, it is the date finally selected by the inhabitants of Lyon (December 8) that will remain anchored in tradition, rather than the one decreed by the authorities.
The use of illuminations dates back to antiquity.
Illumination was a common practice throughout the Mediterranean basin, observed among the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. In antiquity, these special lights marked festivities and glorious moments. City dwellers decorated their windows with lamps and small lights to celebrate important events. These illuminations persisted through tradition, lasting from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, retaining both their symbolism and practicality. In Lyon, as in other cities of the Kingdom of France, the arrival of a prominent figure was marked by the illumination of the city. A city's splendor and renown were then measured by the quality and quantity of its lights.
