The ancient sport of ‘Fire Hockey’, where players hit flaming balls with sticks in the dark is making a comeback in Mexico. Thought to be originally played by Purepecha indians, fire hockey is played on a cement field, with hockey sticks and a wooden ball soaked in gasoline and set ablaze.”The fire ball is, well, it’s like magic,” said Omar Mendoza, one of the teenagers playing “Pelota Phurépecha,” as the sport is known. “It’s like the equilibrium of the universe; between good and evil. Evil is the darkness and good is the ball.” Definitely one that should be considered for the Olympics and great for schools where planning has stopped the use of floodlights.

Ancient Fire Hockey Makes a Comeback in Mexico from Storyhunter on Vimeo.