Fête des lumières or Festival of Lights is held on the 8th of December in the French city of Lyon. People of this city traditionally put candles along their windows. Lyon looks really special during that December night.
The festival is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Its origin lays in 1643. City authorities promised to consecrate the city to the Virgin if the city is spared of plague. Since then on the 8th of December people of Lyon participate in the procession to the Basilica of Fourvière where they light candles and pray. The basilica and all other major buildings in Lyon are beautifully lit. The city's Place des Terreaux is the site of various spectacular light shows.