Xiangxi Bai Torch Festival
 2016-12-20 16:49:26   Zhangjiajie Tourism Information Website  

On lunar June, 25th. Bai people of all ages and both sexes get together to worship their ancestors. By means of worshiping the torches, lighting up torches, playing torches and jumping across torches, Bai people wish for good harvests and thriving domestic animals.

Before the festival, all villagers erect a 20 meters’ torch jointly. This pole of torch is made of pine tree. Wheat straws and pine branches are bundled on it. The top of this torch is be flagged. At noon, Bai people go to visit their ancestral graves with small torches, paper money, joss sticks and candles and offering. Before the sunset, all people should eat dinner in advance and then go to enjoy the torches.

Bai people think torches can get rid of the ill-fortune. And then, the young need to lift the torches to the fields and light spikes with torches. Its implied meaning is to eliminate pests and confirm a good harvest.

At the end of torch festival, young men and women step over the bonfire made by torches one after another for twice or three times. In this way, they pray for eliminate evil.

Translated by Becky