Torch Festival of yi Nationality藏族的火把节

江苏省连云港市赣榆区罗阳中学 陈传光 供稿

Torch Festival is a traditional festival celebrated by Yi nationality in southwestern China. It usually falls on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month with three days of celebration. As its name suggests， the torch plays a very important part. The brightly burning torches are a symbol of fire. It is believed the origin2 of the festival may have something to do with the worship3 of fire. Ancient people believed fire had the power to kill insects4， drive away evils5 and protect the crops. Fire has already taken the position as god in their life. Torch Festival is a special festival to pay tribute to the god of fire.

火把节是中国西南部彝族人民庆祝的一个传统节日。火把节始于阴历6月24，庆祝活动持续3天。从节日的名称可以看出，火把在这个节日中起着举足轻重的作用。熊熊燃烧的火把是火的象征。通常人们认为火把节起源于彝族对火的自然崇拜。远古时代的彝族人相信火可以杀虫害、驱邪并保护农作物。因此，火在彝族人的生活中已经占据了神明的位置。火把节就是彝族人民为了赞颂火神而举行的节日。

Torches are the center of the festival activities. During the festival， big torches tied up with dried wood are planted in all villages. Small torches are placed in front of the door of each house. When night falls， the torches are lit and the villages are as bright as daytime. At the same time， people walk around the fields and houses， holding small torches and placing the torches in the field corners. Later in the night， people would gather around a five-meter-tall platform6， on which the shrine7 of the god of fire is built. Then with the drums and dances， the fire ritual begins.

节日的一系列活动都围绕火把展开。节日期间，所有的村庄都竖起捆绑着干木材的大火把。家家户户门前也都放置了小一点的火把。当夜幕降临的时候，人们点燃村里所有的火把，整个村庄便夜如白昼。同时，举着火把的人们在田地和房子周围列队前进，并且他们将火把插在田地的四角。夜色稍晚时分，人们便会聚集到一个高达5米的火神的祭坛周围。随着鼓声响起，舞蹈开始，祭祀活动也拉开了帷幕。

Another thing worthy of mentioning is about the special costumes. In some way， torch festival is like a fashion fair. On the occasion8， young ladies dress best in their own way. Their clothes are colorful and have hundreds of varieties. The special clothing culture of Yi people is unfolded before eyes. Also， a costume contest is usually held. Dressed in beautiful clothes， young girls dance elegantly9 to the music. The elders make comments and finally the most beautiful one

will be chosen.

另外值得一提的是火把节独具特色的服装。从某种意义上来说，火把节就像一个服装盛会。在这个特别的场合，年轻的女孩们以自己的方式穿着盛装。她们的衣服颜色丰富多彩，样式千姿百态。这充分展示了彝族独特的服饰文化。通常，人们还会举办一场服饰大赛。穿着亮丽的年轻女孩们随着音乐翩翩起舞。年长者会对她们的舞蹈做出评价并最终选出最漂亮的一个。

Torch festival is also a grand occasion for sports. Men show their strength of character from many exciting sports activities such as horse races， bullfights， arrow10 shooting， wrestling11， tugs-of-wars12 and swimming etc.. In horse races， torches are usually used to make hurdles13 for riders to get through. In all these activities， a competitor may win both the game and “a girls eyes and heart”.

火把节也是一场运动盛会。男子们通过各种各样的体育活动来展现自己坚强的个性。这些活动包括赛马、斗牛、射箭、摔跤、拔河、游泳等。赛马的时候，火把会被做成跳栏，让比赛者骑马跨过去。这些活动中都会有人脱颖而出，这些佼佼者们不仅赢得了比赛，也赢得了“美人的眼球和心”。

Among the traditional festivals of the Chinese minorities14， Torch Festival is one of the most charming15 festivals and it is regarded as “the Carnival of the Orient”. The worship of nature and the simple life are something missing in modern life. The colorful costumes， the singing and dancing and the sports activities all together make a festival with the strongest national flavor16， and also a most attractive one.

彝族火把节是中国少数民族传统节日中最具魅力的节日之一，它享有“东方狂欢夜”的美誉。对自然的崇拜和简朴的生活方式是现代生活所缺失的。多姿多彩的服饰、各种歌舞以及运动项目，所有这些都造就了一个具有强烈民族特色的节日，同时也造就了一个令人神往的节日。

1. nationality [] n. 国家；民族；部落 2. origin [] n. 起源

3. worship [] v. 崇拜；尊敬 4. insect [] n. 昆虫

5. evil [] n. 邪恶；灾祸 6. platform [] n. 平台；坛

7. shrine [] n. 圣地；神殿 8. occasion [] n. 机会；场合

9. elegantly [] adv. 优美地 10. arrow [] n. 箭

11. wrestling [] n. 摔跤；扭斗 12. tug-of-war n. 拔河

13. hurdle [] n. 障碍；跳栏 14. minority [] n. 少数民族

15. charming [] adj. 迷人的 16. flavor [] n. 情味，风味