Yunnan Torch Festival is related to meteorology.

Yunnan Torch Festival is related to meteorology.

June 24th of the lunar calendar is the same festival for many ethnic groups in Yunnan-Torch Festival. At that time, people would dress up to celebrate, hold various entertainment activities, light torches at night, run in the fields, drink, sing and dance, and talk about love all night for three days.

Different nationalities have different legends about the origin of Yunnan Torch Festival.

Sani people living in Shilin once said that in ancient times, there was a demon king who humiliated, oppressed and killed people. Under the rule of the devil, Sani people live in dire straits. The people rose against the devil many times, but the devil used magic, so many struggles failed. Later, a wise man came up with an idea. He tied a torch to his horn and drove the sheep up the mountain from all directions to attack the demon king. The demon king's magic only applies to people, not sheep. The demon king was burned to death in the fire. People hold Torch Festival every day to commemorate the devil who defeated tyranny. This myth reflects the spirit of Sani people who are not afraid of violence and are brave in struggle.

The torch festival of the Bai nationality originated from the story of "burning the Song and Ming Pagoda". According to legend, in the Tang Dynasty, Piluoge, one of the six imperial edicts in Erhai area of Dali, attempted to annex the other five imperial edicts and occupied the charity of Luodeng, the wife of the leader of Luodeng imperial edict. On June 24th, Pirog lured the imperial edicts leaders to the Songming Tower to drink, set them on fire, and then sent troops to attack the imperial edicts of Luoden. Mrs. Charity closed the door for half a month, ran out of ammunition and committed suicide. In the future, the Bai people will use gas as a torch to symbolize freedom every year on this day, looking for evidence to commemorate this charity lady.

Legend belongs to legend. What is the real scientific significance and purpose of Torch Festival? The author was lucky enough to attend the Torch Festival in Eshan Yi Autonomous County, only to find that the Torch Festival was originally a "meteorological festival" and a "year-praying festival". Because Yunnan's climate belongs to the southwest monsoon climate, dry and wet are distinct, and the seasons are like spring. Every year in late May, all localities enter the rainy season. After six or seven months of wet and rainy weather, various molds, bacteria and pests proliferate in large quantities, which is very harmful to human body, livestock, poultry and crops. In the past, Yunnan's medical and health care was very backward, and the means of epidemic prevention were primitive. So we have to use the method of smoking, and all ethnic groups in each township agreed to light torches and sprinkle rosin powder on the same day to drive away the gas of boils, put out moths, insects, mosquitoes and flies, and pray for a long life, prosperity of six livestock and abundant crops. At this time, after the busy farming, the elderly and children are happy; Young men and women, with torches in their hands, chase each other and get together happily. This has formed a national festival with deep feelings-Torch Festival.