On July 18, a live video of Puzhehei’s “Painted Face Festival” in Wenshan, Yunnan was circulated on the Internet. In one video, everyone was holding pot ashes and wiping the faces of their friends around them. Everyone had a "black" face, and a puppy was also "besieged". Everyone was having a great time. In another video, the police officers on patrol were not spared. They were labeled as "black cat sergeants" by everyone, and the passing corgi was also covered in "black smoke" by everyone. Netizens joked, "Everyone is treated equally, no matter who comes."

< /p>

On July 19, I contacted the county staff of the Culture and Tourism Bureau of Wenshan Mountain North County, Yunnan Province. He introduced that the "Painted Face Festival" is a unique traditional festival of the Yi people in Qiubei County, Yunnan Province. It got its name from the folk use of pot smoke to blacken the face and exorcise evil spirits. It has a history of thousands of years in Qiubei County. "Legend has it that a long time ago there was a monster called 'Nian' who went around doing evil and hurting people. The people came up with a way to put the ashes from the bottom of cooking pots on their faces to scare away the monster 'Nian', and gradually began to pray for blessings. and the meaning of eliminating demons. Therefore, this tradition has been passed down to this day, slowly expanding from one village to several villages, and now it is a popular celebration in the entire Qiubei County."

On the morning of July 18, 2023, the 2023 "Painted Face Festival" in Puzhehei, Yunnan, China, was held in Qiubei County Jiaolian Square was officially opened. County staff of the Qiubei County Culture and Tourism Bureau told reporters that this is the 24th consecutive "Painted Face Festival" celebration. Since the opening on July 18, the month-long celebration will be held on the next one. During the month, Qiubei will also hold a series of exciting activities to fully demonstrate the charm of national culture.

"Everyone chases each other, grabbing the soot from the pots and stoves, and blackens each other's faces. The local people are convinced that their faces have been blackened by others. The darker you touch, the more good luck and happiness will come to you. ”