National Day Torch Festival Held in Kaohsiung Village|高雄木梓里辦"火把節" 社區找重生力量

On the evening of Double Ten, there was not only a fireworks shows at Pingtung's Riverside Park, but also a torch event in a small village in Kaohsiung's Shanlin. Residents of the village not only celebrated the nation's birthday, but also used the event to light the way home for village natives. The event also helped residents to rediscover the power of rebirth in a community that has been in decline for 30 years.


Muzi Borough in Kaohsiung City's Shanlin District is a small village in the mountains with a population of just over 300. To revitalize the community, residents held a "torch festival" in celebration of National Day.

When we were kids, we had to walk two hours to get to school. We had to leave home while it was still dark out, and the adults would light the way with torches. It was the same coming home.

Over 600 participants, including both adults and children, walked down darkened mountain trails with joy and gratitude in their hearts.

It's an emotional experience to see this tradition still alive in the community 50 years later. I was truly moved to see so many people taking part in the festival today because the story of Muzi has to be rediscovered by the people of Muzi.

Kaohsiung's Little Township Alliance has helped to promote the torch festival for the past two years. The alliance says the event is more than a "farming village day trip." It hopes more people can take part in Muzi's revitalization and light torches to guide village locals back home.



高雄市杉林區的木梓里，是一個常住人口只有三百多人的小山村。為了重振社區，居民不靠政府補助，在十月十日國慶日這天晚上，自主發起一場名為「火把節」的盛大活動。

木梓社區發展協會前理事長 侯武戴表示：「我們(小時候)讀書的時候，因為走路很遠，從家裡走到學校需要兩小時，要出發的時候，天還沒有亮，大人就會拿火把帶領我們到半路，他們就會叫我們趕快去學校，回來也是這樣。」

參加活動的有六百多人，人數是平日村民的兩倍。無論大人、小孩，一起走在越來越暗的山路裡，大家心裡絲毫不害怕、只有滿滿的感動。

遊客 詹玲玲表示：「看到社區完全從50年前的事情，挖掘這個故事，我真的很感動，所以今天參與的時候，看到那麼多人進來是真的很感動，因為木梓的故事，是要木梓的人去挖掘。」

小鄉社造志業聯盟，是近兩年與木梓社區合作「火把節」的在地組織，他們強調，「火把節」不是農村一日遊，而是希望號召更多人，陪伴木梓重新找回社區力量，讓火把成為山路上的星星，為遊子照亮回家的路。