Cranberry County: La Salette Christmas Festival of Lights

We rolled out to Attleboro to scope the Christmas Festival Of Lights at the La Salette Shrine.

"La Salette" is French for "The Salette." We'll ask Stacey what Salette means when she wakes up (Editor: It means "Sally," which means "strong, trustworthy woman" in French. It is more of a baby name than an adult name).

It references a Marian apparition that went down in the French Alps village of La Salette in 1846.

The Blessed Virgin appeared to a couple of French shepherd children (Maximin and Melanie) who had been sleeping on the job.

She spoke in both French and a local dialect, and made demands, among which were "Respect the Sabbath" and "Stop saying the Lord's name in vain." She threatened the potato and wheat crops if her wishes were not respected. She did so sorrowfully, not like a Bond villain, as she was weeping.

She also gave a secret to each child, similar to the Marian apparition at Fatima 50 years later. Unlike the Fatima kids, Max and Mel never gave up the secrets. Max led a "wandering and unhappy" life, while Melanie became a nun.

The shrine in Attleboro is dedicated to this event, and many of the themes in the light show reflect the events in the Alps.

Non-Christians will have a good time here, as the shrine uses 500,000 lights in their display.

The show seems to cover about 500 acres or so.

As you can see, it is not all religious, as I cannot recall anything about candy canes and gingerbread men in any of the books of the Bible.

They try to please everyone, as this looks a lot like the flag of a Muslim nation (Turkey).

Any faith will get a kick out of La Salette, as the light show is truly spectacular.

I think that the first 8 reindeer were in the Bible, but not Rudolph.

A nice safe space for a snowflake.

I'm pretty sure that the candy cane was behind the Star Of David, and just sort of found her way into the shot.

The shepherds had mastered disco poses 1,978 years before Saturday Night Fever. It also kind of looks like the Heisman Trophy.

You have to like a place where a 200 candle display is one of the less bright things in the shrine.

Jesus gets into the Christmas article, rightfully.

Hi!

Santa looks like he's been working out, or at least switched to Diet Pepsi.

Electric lights didn't exist in the time of Jesus, but they sure do look cool.

I also doubt that the secrets of Max and Melanie included "run up a $25,000 electric bill," but if it did, it would explain why they kept their secrets to themselves.

I almost led off with this one.

Thomas Jefferson was showing an Italian diplomat around Virginia when they passed a ruined church. "We would never let our churches get to this state in Rome," said the Italian. Jefferson replied, "Yet it is good enough for He who was born in a manger."