No…
Really…
Are you walking in fire?
And I am not talking about this hypothetically.
There really people out there who walk on fire. Are they mad or just Brave?
Let’s find out more about this crazy pastime.
Walking in Fire Madness
This ancient ritual of fire walking is one that has existed for many years and is practised by various people all over the world.
No…
Not just one country but many.
So, are they mad or is there something to all this firewalking that the average person has not discovered yet?
Apparently, it dates as far back as the iron age when it was usually done as a sign of courage and strength.
I can understand this…
Would you pick on (most probably at that time) a man that has walked on hot coals?
Certainly, if I were a man think twice about it at that time…
Where did Fire Walking Originate?
Records have shown that this firewalking dates back to 1200 BC.
Now, this was when the first recorded firewalk took place in India during the Iron Age.
So…
Did they find this out with written context or was it a picture drawn on a rock or wall or something like that?
Anyway…
The records indicate that there were two Brahmin priests who took the firewalk together in a competition.
Now I did not think that they would have a competition as priests…
Well…
The proof is here…
There is a sense of competition among priests even in the Iron Age.
It was the priest who had walked furthest who would win.
And we know about this because some bright spark decided to have this feat recorded.
Well…
You would…
Wouldn’t you?
If you saw two men walking on very hot coals.
There are apparently two methods of walking on fire. These are either walking barefoot over a bed of hot stones or embers.
So as things go.
After someone does it, there is always another who thinks that they have to have a go.
After all…
If one can do it, another feels the need to show that they are also brave.
So…
I gather that the word got out of other people’s thoughts.
Hey…
look at that fire…
If I walk over it I will be respected and show my devotion to the bravery of whatever it was then.
So…
Firewalking has been practised by many people and many different cultures in many parts of the world.
That act of walking on fire coals, or walking in fire is still being practised even today.
From its origin of most probably, competition. It is now often used as a rite of passage.
I am sure that you have heard of a rite of passage before – where a man or young men are elevated to the status of manhood.
Or with men themselves show bravery and faith in their own abilities, to even go through with the act of walking through fire or walking on coals.
A test of courage and strength is and always has been very important to all human cultures dating back from the beginning of time to the modern age.
And it has also found its way into religion as well, as a test of their faith.
Firewalking Festival in Japan
It is no surprise to me that a place like Japan and its strict rituals would not have embraced this ritual of walking over fire themselves.
There is an annual festival in Japan that is done every year devoted to this act of walking over the fire.
Japanese Buddhist worshippers take part in this annual yearly Hiwatari Matsuri Festival on Sunday near Mount Takao, about 50 kilometres west of Tokyo.
During this event, these participants walk their away, barefoot across these hot coals while they are praying for good health and also safety for themselves, their family members, and also the world.
Apparently, fire walking has become something else as well. “Passing your body through these such flames.
Is thought to cleanse your soul and also deliver your prayers to Buddha. As you can see here that the cleansing would come from a spiritual deliverance of religious worshipers.
I guess, whether it originated from the sense of competition, it can change as to who is performing this fire walking act.
This Japanese festival is held traditionally on the second Sunday in March.
And often attracts some 3,000-4,000 visitors all coming to see this act of amazing bravery.
And it has to be bravery as the consequences can be disastrous if your feet are burnt badly from the hot coals or embers.
And as you could imagine that not all people that walk through fire are going to come out of this just fine.
You just can not go walking through fire and think it is as easy as that.
If you did however just go for it, you would be running screaming off the coals looking for the nearest body of water…
No!
There needs to be preparation for all before you can attempt such a daring feat such as this.
For example…
Before the fire-walking, the Japanese monks chant in a procession, followed by their own rituals and performances that are aimed at warding off evil spirits.
To prepare the coals for the act of the fire walk. The monks set fire to piles of wood and use Japanese cypress leaves, to create a bonfire.
They then douse the flames of the fire with water and lay the embers out in a path to walk over while chanting.
Can Humans Really Walk on Fire?
As history has shown us till today that the act of walking in fire is not just something some scribe made up all those years ago and that it did happen.
Not just in words, but by the fact that people are still doing it today.
Very often, wood embers or coals that are used in this feat of fire walking, also have a low heat capacity.
I would hate to think what would happen if it were really hot. But still hot enough.
We know that even picking up something that is too hot, we put it down. Like a hot cup of coffee.
So do not think that mild is cool where the fire is concerned?
It is the sweat produced on the bottom of people’s feet that also helps form a protective water vapour while walking overheating.
So all of this put together does make it possible, as long as you are moving quickly enough over the coals, you will not get burned.
Do Fire Walkers Burn their Feet?
Modern physics has actually explained this phenomenon.
They have concluded that the foot itself does not touch the hot surface of the coals or ash long enough to burn the bottom of the walker’s feet and that embers themselves, are actually poor conductors of heat
Rest assured…
Even though this is so, does not mean that you should go and create a campfire and try to walk over it.
Assumptions are very well, but walking over fire whether it be quick has other things involved to come out the other side without burned feet.
Significance
When the fire walking starts, many men, women and teenagers walk through it with the hope that their wishes will be fulfilled.
For these people, being able to walk through the hot coal is a demonstration of bravery, strength and faith. It also shows their ability to confront their innermost fears while taking on new challenges.
Much importance is attached to this holy occasion, and the general belief is that only those who don’t have faith will get burnt while walking on the fire.
What is the Trick to Fire Walking?
The trick lies in taking a fluent brisk walk – with each step taking less than half a second of contact with the charcoal.
During a 10-15 feet firewalk run, each foot will be in contact with the embers for a total time of only a few seconds.
Which Country Holds an Annual Fire Walking Ritual?
The fire-walking ceremony is in honour of the goddess Draupadi Amman, who is considered the incarnation of the goddess Mariamman and is practised not only in India.
But also in:
- Malaysia
- Fiji
- Sri Lanka
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Mauritius
- Réunion
And also other countries with large South Indian populations in them.
Walking in fire is and always has been a feat of the brave and the most faithful.
While there are other people who are able to walk over the fire as long as they have had the training of preparation first.
Might not always be successful even with such preparation.
Walking in fire is indeed a monumental feat that needs to be respected and also acknowledged that it has been a part of human society in many areas of the world then as it is today.