It would just be more simple to give you the link that tells you what the Fire Festival is all about and why they celebrate it. The story I heard is a bit different than what is on this site but who really knows anyways...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugum_ChuguI went with Brother Andrew, Jemima, and a friend. Andrew's brothers were very involved. His older brother is the chief's warrior. So before the Chief can come out his brother will come and shoot off a gun (no bullets). His other two brothers were painted up and danced to the beat of drums for hours! It was raining that night so I was told there were hardly any people there. I thought there were quite a lot. When the rain did die down the chief's warrior came out and signaled and then the chief came out. He threw water out on people and it is said that if the water touches you, you will have special favor...like things you want will come to pass. Then, we all went with burning grass torches to a tree. At the tree, we all threw in our torches so that it would light one big fire. When that fire was lit, we walked to another part of town where they were celebrating and joined in with their tree torching ceremony. I met some chiefs and was very honored to be a part of this festival. I was thankful I had my friends with me explaining the whys and whats of the nights. I even got to get jiggy-with-it with Brother Simon.
Part of me thought it was like our house on 4th of July...except not as safe. I know my brother-in-law could not imagine more unsafe than my brothers and Dad! But there were Roman candles going off and these huge explosions. I got knocked back a step at one point. Guys had aerosol cans they were lighting and the torches people would run around with. Boys had big machetes they would scrape on the pavement to make sparks and girls would scream and run around. It was crazy, and yet I felt protected with these people. I know Jo-Jo (my extreme pyro brother) would have really joined in. I kept thinking someone is going to get a finger blown off, but, nope, none, that I saw, anyways. Andrew's family took me home around 12.30pm and I was a bit chilled (just a bit! hard to be chilled in this weather.) because of the rain and wind.Amazing Experience! Come and join me next year!