火把节习俗起源于彝族先民对火的原始崇拜，通过火崇拜的一系列活动来祭岁、除秽、祈年。
    峨山彝族欢度火把节，农历六月二十三就要杀牛，并准备松柴火把、松香粉末。六月二十四是正日，各家备办酒食，夜晚，各家各户点燃火把夜游。村寨内外及附近田野，火把游动，通明如白昼。人们不时把松香粉末撒向火把，让火焰燎得更旺，每撒一把，就发出耀眼的火光，发出“轰”的响声，火苗燎向对方，叫做“敬上一把”，认为火苗的指向可燎去人身上的晦气，故竞相燎耍，喜气洋洋。燎耍过后，青年要成群结队,举着小火把到田间地头，向火把撒松香粉末，给谷物照穗，意思是烧死害虫，驱邪消灾。
    居住在大西的山苏人，则在俗定的山梁草坪上欢聚，称“色白色”，即赶花街，方圆数十里的各族群众都会赶来参加，形成一个小小的集市，卖起牛羊汤锅、当地小吃、小百货等。同时还要举行“斗牛”活动、牲畜交易。年轻男女在村旁野外烧起篝火，跳起彝族“大彝乐”、唱起山歌“阿罗佐”、“阿乖乐”。老人们弹起三弦琴，人们手拉手，尽兴地唱，尽兴地跳，祈望年年五谷丰登，六畜兴旺、狩猎丰收、森林茂密、房屋清洁。
    在月光下一把把火把，一堆堆熊熊燃烧的篝火，像天上的繁星落到人间，到处是火的浪涛，到处是歌舞的海洋——欢庆的火给人间带来光明与欢乐。

Origin of Torch Festival
    The custom of Torch Festival Originated the ancestor of Yi nationality's worship to fire, they hold activities to propitiate a deity, drive away unlucky, and pray a plentiful harvest.
    Yi nationality in Eshan county will kill cows on 23, July. In lunar calendar and prepare some pine wood torch, rosin powder to celebrate torch Festival. On 24, July, every family will prepare wine and a hearty meal. At night, in order to let The fire flamed more bright, Yi people will drop rosin powder to torch, now and then, whenever do this, torch will Sending forth radiant light, and with a sonic boom, the flames turn to the other party, they called the action as "respect", for Yi people, they consider flames could help people get rid of unlucky. After that, young people will form a group walk into the fields and lit up the crop to burning pests and avoided disaster.
    The Shansu nationality, which dwell in Daxi will get together at the ridge's lawn, they called "se bai se", just as go to market. At that day, All ethnic groups for miles round will take part in it, they forms a public market sells chafing, local snacks, small articles and so on. Meanwhile, there are bullfights, animal deal etc. Generally speaking,  young people will bank up the fire in the fields and dance "da yi le" , sing mountain airs, just like "a luo zuo", "a guai le". At the same time, elderly person will play the string, people will dance hand in hand to pray a plentiful harvest, booming, and family clear.
     Lighted by moonlight, whatever the torch or the bonfires are all like the stars which fall into the world, all everywhere are like the fire sea, and filled with delight--fire brings us bright and happy.