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I'm currently visiting NYC with my kidlets, aged 8 and 10.

We are staying about three blocks away from the Empire State Building.

There is currently a giant inflatable dragon wrapped around the Empire State Building.

Kidlets are delighted by the dragon.

Kidlets are rather more delighted by the dragon than might be expected.

Yes, you might say, it's a dragon wrapped around a famous skyscraper, where's the surprise in that?

No surprise.

It's just that they're extremely excited.

They're reading Terry Pratchett 's Guards! Guards!

A book that features a giant dragon swooping off the tallest tower in the great city of Anhk Morpork.

They are quoting the book constantly

"The shape that looked like a large pair of wings unfurling was, in fact, a large pair of wings unfurling."

All the time

"Dragons don’t have friends! The nearest they can get to the idea is an enemy who is still alive!"

Little girls, wandering through the tourist attractions of midtown Manhattan, like

"A people united can never be ignited!"

With such enthusiasm

"This is going to be the world's first democratically killed dragon! One man, one stab!

I love them so much, I'm so proud, I picked the right partner, we made the best possible kids

Repost @xplorares

P’urhépecha

Maya

Ok. Having said that, let’s move on to the “fire hockey” game itself.

The game is called Uárhukua Ch'anakua, meaning “stick competition”, although the name can change depending on the region were it’s practiced.

The ball, or zapandukua, is made of wood, stone, or rubber wrapped with cotton fabric that is left soaking on petroleum for a few days before the game, when it’s ignited.

The sticks, or uárhukua, are also made of wood. Their size and weight varies depending on the player preferences.

Originally there was no time limit, so one match could last for days. Nowadays they last about half an hour (or until the first score is made).

Each team has five players and at least three reserves. Substitutions are unlimited but have to be notified to the judges so they can decide when it’s pertinent to make the change without interrupting the game.

It is a game of honor. If a player gets penalized or expelled, it not only means dishonor for them, it means dishonor for their team.

It is kind of a Big Deal, with actual tournaments taking place on the P’urhépecha region and other places like México City.

The Uárhukua is usually played at night because the fiery ball symbolizes the sun moving through the sky. You can imagine just how impressive it looks to have a literal ball of fire bouncing across the field.

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