Children as Part
of Worldwide Traditions
Torch Day in China
Yi Xie (Amy) from
the People's Republic of China
The Yi people in China have
a holiday named Torch Day every year from August 5 to 8. Why do we have
that holiday? Because we have a myth. Three thousand years ago in August
near harvest time, our Yi people had a wrestling competition. One Yi person
was very strong and kind. His name was Zhige Arlon. He did something to
the devil, and the devil felt he lost face, so he sent lots of locusts
to the area and destroyed the crops. Then Zhige Arlon guided the Yi people.
He told them to hold torches to kill the locusts. So, the Yi people killed
all of the locusts.
The Yi people still have
this holiday. It's very great, even though there are no locusts anymore.
When everybody holds the torches at night, the streets look like a fire
dragon. The view is great. Lots of guests come to our area to enjoy the
friendly Yi people's Torch Day.
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