The Torch Festival is an ancient and important traditional festival of the Yi, Bai, Naxi, Jino, Lahu and other ethnic groups, and has profound folk cultural connotations. Many people don’t understand what the Torch Festival is about. Next, let’s take a look at what the Torch Festival celebrates. Welcome everyone to read for reference! What is the Torch Festival celebrated? 1

Different ethnic groups hold the Torch Festival at different times. Generally, it is on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month, when the handle of the Big Dipper points upward. The Yi ethnic groups all celebrate the Torch Festival. , some scholars believe that this festival was originally a festival in the ten-month calendar of the Yi people. The Torch Festival is also called the Star Return Festival. There is a popular saying that "the stars return to the sky on New Year's Eve", which is equivalent to the New Year in the Yi calendar. Therefore, it is also called the Chinese New Year. The main activities include sheep fighting, cock fighting, bullfighting, wrestling, song and dance performances, beauty pageants, etc. In the new era, the Torch Festival has been given new folk functions and created new forms.

Although there are many folk legends about the origin of the Torch Festival, its real origin is the worship of fire by the ancestors of the Yi people.

Some people say that the Torch Festival originated from the Star Festival. It can be said that the Torch Festival has nothing to do with the Star Festival. This issue will be discussed in detail below, so we won’t go into details here.

Paragraph annotation (Shuowen): "Fire, Wei, also. Wei, each book is a decoration. Now it is correct. The following is Ri Wei, fire. It is a re-note. On the journey to the south, the flames come up. With the wood It is called the journey to the east, the journey to the west is said to be in gold, and it is similar to that in the text. It is big at the bottom and sharp at the top. The ancient sound is from the fire.

Paragraph Notes "Shuowen": "Yan, the light on the fire. Hong Fan said: Huo means Yan Shang. Its original meaning is also. Yunhan Zhuan said: Yanyan, hot air. Datian Chuanri: Yan, fire Shengyang also . All the meanings are derived from "Huoyi", "Yu Lianqie" and "Yan".

Ancient Chinese said: "Human fire means fire, and heavenly fire means disaster." ("Zuo Zhuan") believes that fire is divided into two types: one is artificial fire and the other is natural fire. The so-called "human fire" refers to the fire used by people; the so-called "sky fire" refers to natural fire. This kind of fire can easily cause fire, so it is called "disaster".

The pronunciation of "fire" is the same in Yi language, and the pronunciation in Lisu language is the same as that in Yi language. Other Tibeto-Burman languages ??are similar or identical to Chinese, but the pronunciation is farther from Yi language.

Judging from the fact that the pronunciation of "fire" in the Yi language is quite consistent, the ancestors of the Yi people at least had a relatively unified understanding and pronunciation of the phenomenon of "fire" before they gradually moved to various places to live. of. The so-called relatively unified understanding of the phenomenon of "fire" refers here to the worship of fire and a series of fire cultural phenomena.

Customs of the Torch Festival

1. Worshiping the God of Fire: The Pumi people living in Ninglang County will hold activities to worship the God of Fire on the day of the Torch Festival.

2. Fire-playing activities: The Bai and Naxi people who live in the foothills of Wufeng Mountain adjacent to Heqing and Lijiang will hold fire-playing activities on the night of the Torch Festival. People tie clusters and bunches of red flowers on all the big trees in the village, symbolizing "red flowers and trees burning like torches." When the first star appears in the sky, people each dance with a small lit torch, sing and dance, and sing praises around the "red flower fire tree".

3. Bullfighting: A loud horn sounded, two bulls came towards each other with eyes wide open, and with a low roar, the two pairs of specially sharpened horns suddenly collided. The surrounding audience cheered and cheered, and the cow was stimulated and encouraged, and its aggressiveness became fierce. Sometimes it attacked fiercely on the frontier, sometimes it confronted the enemy with force, sometimes blood spattered, and sometimes it waited for an opportunity to counterattack. The victorious cow, with its head and neck draped in red and flowers, is led around the field by its owner, thus doubling its value.

4. Wrestling: Wrestling is very popular among the Yi people. There are two types of wrestling: stumbling and non-stumbling. If you fall down, you lose; different villages select the strongest and most capable wrestlers to compete, and the winner is In addition to receiving awards, their own villages also celebrated and encouraged them with wine, sheep, cattle and other delicacies.

5. Beauty pageant: Yi people have loved and pursued beauty for generations. “Beauty pageant” has been the most important and distinctive activity in the Yi people’s traditional torch festival since ancient times.

He often solves problems for various tribes and eliminates violence and peace, and is deeply loved by the people. One day, Heidi Laba went hunting in the mountains. Standing on the top of a high mountain, intoxicated by the breathtaking scenery, he couldn't help but sing loudly to express his love for nature and his desire for a hair-dressing life. The high-pitched singing voice attracted the melodious singing voice of Nizhang Azhi, a shepherd girl on another mountain. They sang love songs across mountains and rivers until dark. From then on, they fell in love with each other and became sworn brothers.

Hercules Sireabi, who has long coveted Nizhang Azhi, heard about the relationship between the two, and was filled with resentment and jealousy in his heart, always looking for opportunities to kill Heidi Laba. Not long after, Sireabi, who couldn't bear his jealousy, came down to earth to challenge him and wanted to have a wrestling duel with the black-bodied Laba. As a result, in a wrestling duel, he was thrown to death by the Yi folk hero Heiti Laba. The gods were furious and released overwhelming celestial insects (locusts) into the world to destroy mature crops.

The clever Nizhang Azhi traveled over the mountains and found a highly respected great Bimo (priest) in the sky. Bimo read the heavenly book and told Nizhang Azhi: To eliminate locusts, you need to use Torch. Nizhang Azhi and Heiti Laba led the people up the mountain to set up torches with mugwort poles. They set up torches for three days and three nights, and burned the torches for three days and three nights. Finally, all the insects were burned to death and the crops were saved.

Seeing this scene, the abominable Ti Guzi was furious. Using his magic power, the overworked Black Body Laba turned into a mountain. Nizhang Azhi looked at all this, heartbroken and in pain. She sacrificed her life amidst the prayers of Da Bimo and turned into beautiful Soma flowers blooming all over the mountains and fields on the high mountain that Black Ti Laba became. This day happens to be the 24th of June in the lunar calendar.

Since then, in order to commemorate this day, the Yi people will hit flint in the traditional way to light the sacred fire on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month every year, light the torch, and walk to the fields to pray for good weather and a good harvest in the coming year. . People sang and danced, celebrating the victory in fighting the disaster and singing about the bravery of Altiraba and the cleverness and beauty of Nizhang Azhi. Over time, the Yi family’s annual Torch Festival was formed. The Torch Festival of the Yi people generally lasts for three days and three nights, and is divided into three stages: welcoming fire, playing with fire, and sending fire. What does the Torch Festival celebrate? 3

Each nation has its own unique culture and living habits. In its long history, it also has its own special festivals. For the De'ang people, these special festivals are not surprising. In fact, the special festivals also contain even more special folk customs!

The De'ang people have a long history. It is a custom to entertain each other during festivals. No matter how many dishes there are at the banquet, they must use fresh vegetables to make a bowl of tasteless vegetarian dishes, and then serve them with a small butterfly pepper. water, dipped in chili pepper water and eaten. Listening, listening, I love spicy food, my mouth is watering. Eating it like this has a unique flavor and is really unforgettable!

The Yi people are an ancient and passionate nation. The Torch Festival of the Yi people is also well-known across the country and is a traditional festival in all Yi areas. It is popular in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan and other Yi areas. Even the Bai, Naxi, and Jinuo people celebrate the Torch Festival!

The Torch Festival on the 24th of the 6th lunar month is the most grand and spectacular festival of the Yi people, with the largest number of participants and rich ethnic characteristics. It is also a grand ceremony for the entire ethnic group! When I imagine the excitement of the Yi Torch Festival, I can't help but be full of longing...

The folk customs of various ethnic groups have given me a taste of many ethnic flavors, and also made me full of beautiful longing for life! What does the Torch Festival celebrate? 4

The Torch Festival is also an "eating" festival of the year. The Yi people in Chuxiong have unique eating customs, with many recipes, rich dishes, original flavor and unique taste. Among the many delicacies of the Yi people, "Sheep Soup Pot" is the most representative. Eating "Sheep Soup Pot" during the Torch Festival has become an old habit of Chuxiong people. During this year's Torch Festival, the Yi Ancient Town, Zixi Yi Village and Yihai Dacheng next to Yihai Park will hold Yi "Sheep Soup Pot" and other special food display activities. At that time, tourists can enjoy the Yi cuisine and experience the unique taste of the Yi people. Food culture and customs.

The characteristic of Yi cuisine is that it is mainly meat-based, and spicy food is essential. This may also have a certain relationship with the geographical distribution of the ethnic group.

The Yi people are good at singing and dancing, are enthusiastic and forthright, and like to eat meat and drink alcohol. No matter how time and place change, the fundamental characteristics of a nation will never change. Not only that, the tableware and decorations of Yi restaurants also use Yi lacquerware and decorations with their own national characteristics. Therefore, we do not hesitate to imprint the delicious, traditional, fragrant Yi girls and bold Yi boys on our restaurants. in mind.

1. Chuxiong Sheep Soup Pot

Chuxiong Sheep Soup Pot

Sheep Soup Pot is a famous dish for the Yi people to entertain guests. It is served every year when the people of Chuxiong Prefecture celebrate the Torch Festival. It’s the busiest time to eat mutton soup pot. Cut all parts of the slaughtered fat sheep into pieces and cook them in a pot. When cooking, add no seasonings except salt. When eating, add pepper, chili powder, mint, etc., and eat with water. . In this way, a tradition was formed.

2. Lufeng roasted piglet

Lufeng roasted piglet

The roasted piglet from Yuanmou and Lufeng Luoci is a kind of local Flavorful traditional cuisine. It uses lean piglets weighing 30 to 40 kilograms. After the pigs are slaughtered and their hair is shed, the tripe and four hooves are removed, then they are coated with various spices and condiments and roasted on charcoal fire until the skin is yellow and the meat is cooked. It looks bright in color, tastes charred on the outside and tender on the inside, and is full of praise.

3. Double-cylinder chestnut marinated meat

Double-cylinder chestnut marinated meat

The raw materials are pork tenderloin, fried rice noodles, Sichuan peppercorns, chili peppers, etc. Let it marinate in a vat for half a year and then eat it. It has a mellow taste and is very delicious when chopped into pieces and stir-fried into fried rice.

4. Mouding Beggar’s Chicken

Mouding Beggar’s Chicken

Mouding Beggar’s Chicken uses fragrant and tender guinea fowl, which is marinated Wrap lemongrass or lotus leaves, stuff ginger, green onions and other ingredients into the belly of the chicken, then wrap the chicken in two layers of tin foil and stuff it into the oven. Just cut the tin foil and lotus leaves when eating. The chicken will be fragrant and tender.

5. Yongren Yijiu whole sheep soup pot

Yongren Yijiu whole sheep soup pot

Yongren Yijiu whole sheep soup pot is a tradition of the Yi people in Yijiu It is a flavored food made from local black goat. The meat, including mutton, sheep head, sheep hooves, sheep blood, internal organs, etc. are stewed in a large iron pot in one pot, and the aroma spreads for miles. The aroma of sheepskin, the freshness of mutton, the crispness of sheep tripe, the tenderness of sheep blood, the toughness of sheep hooves... will strongly shock your taste buds and leave you wanting more. The whole lamb soup pot is not fishy or smelly, rich in nutrients, and suitable for all ages.

6. Yuanmou Liang Chicken

Yuanmou Liang Chicken

As one of the representatives of authentic Yunnan flavor, Yuanmou Liang Chicken has a history of nearly a hundred years. The selection of materials for cold chicken is exquisite, and chickens that have not laid eggs or have not crowed are the best. Slaughter the chicken, disembowel it, clean it, put the whole chicken in a pot and stew slowly, add water while cooking, until the chicken skin shrinks obviously, take it out and cool it, then cut it into pieces, dip it in sweet and spicy water with the tender cold chicken, and the aftertaste endless.

7. Yao'an's hand-shredded air-dried chicken

Yao'an's hand-shredded air-dried chicken

Many places in Yunnan have a traditional history of making air-dried chicken among the people. Yao'an County air-dried chicken in northwest Yunnan and Zhenxiong County air-dried chicken in northeastern Yunnan are the most famous. Yao'an air-dried chicken not only has a unique flavor and can be used to cook a variety of delicious dishes, but is also easy to preserve and eat. It can be steamed, roasted, stewed, braised, or braised. After steaming, the whole chicken can be torn into pieces and eaten. It is a feast for the eyes, and it is very suitable for making reunion dishes.

8. Nanhua Cold Matsutake

Nanhua Cold Matsutake

Cold Matsutake is a bold attempt to eat wild mushrooms raw, and later became a famous name in Nanhua's "Mushroom Feast" vegetable. Natural fresh matsutake is used as the cooking ingredient. Slice it and add homemade cold seasonings. Mix evenly and eat. This method can not only retain the unique fat aroma of matsutake, but also lock the moisture in the matsutake, so that you can taste the rich and fragrant mushroom juice in your mouth.

9. Dayao vegetable box

Dayao vegetable box

A local specialty snack in Shiyang Ancient Town, Dayao, which uses noodles to fill the mold with batter. Make it into a box, fill it with bean sprouts, sauerkraut, leeks, etc., fry it in a pan until the outer shell is golden, and eat it in your mouth. The noodle box is crispy, and the vegetables in the box are sour and fragrant, making it appetizing.

10. Wuding buckwheat cake

Wuding buckwheat cake

The making of Wuding buckwheat cake is very simple. The dough is made into a ball of buckwheat noodles that is one foot long and three meters thick. Inch-inch, strip-shaped buckwheat cake with a width of five feet, cooked in boiling water and ready to eat. Tartary buckwheat cake is slightly bitter but sweet, and is very delicious whether dipped in honey or condensed milk.