Today
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 8 December. These stout, fluted 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 8 December.
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.
Read more about this topic: Festival Of Lights (Lyon)
Famous quotes containing the word today:
“Nobody can resist a ripe idea. The idea today is change.”
—Tansu Ciller (b. 1946)
“What
Reply can the vast flowering strike from us,
Unless it be the one
You make today in London: to be married?”
—Philip Larkin (1922–1986)
““I’m very brave generally,” he went on in a low voice: “only today I happen to have a headache.””
—Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson] (1832–1898)