“Léiwer Härgottsblieschen, Gitt ons Speck an Ierbessen…”, “Lard and peas…”. On this day of Candlemas, every February 2, the children of Luxembourg celebrate in song and with lanterns the Liichtmëssdag. From door to door, they sing in exchange for sweets to bring light to those who do not hesitate to open them at nightfall.

“It’s a real pleasure”, tells us a resident of Limpertsberg, in Luxembourg City, “because we see the light in the eyes of the children. It reminds me of my own childhood and it’s great to continue this tradition. I have great memories of it, also with my children, with whom, when we were younger, we also visited all the houses in the neighborhood. It is transmitted naturally, we do not need to do much. I don’t have a lot of candies anymore, there were so many children. It is good to see that the tradition resumes after the last two years marked by the Covid-19”.

For Tommy and Louis, 11, it’s a real moment of joy and sharing. “Every second February, we love going door to door and we usually start around 5 p.m.,” they tell us. “Later, everyone sleeps and then there’s no more candy!” And earlier, there is no one. We are a little disappointed, because out of fifteen houses, only four opened their doors to us. Our paper lanterns are a bit like recycling. We made them four years ago and they still hold up. It’s a little artisanal with a flashlight, but it works!”.

Originally from Spain, Carlos accompanies his children and discovers this grand-ducal tradition. “My wife comes from the Czech Republic so we discover this event that we don’t know too much about,” he told us. “We know that we have to sing and we participate with the little ones. Leo, 4 and a half years old, is taking part for the very first time and he made his lantern at school. We rehearsed the song well and he is getting better and better at it.”