The phrase “They walked through a fire” is often used to describe a difficult time in a person’s life. Firewalking is a term that refers to people who have walked through a fire with their feet on hot coals.

International Firewalk Day is a celebration of this ancient practice, and the new generation who embrace it as a way for them to face their fears.

International Firewalk Day’s history dates back to prehistory. The first recorded mentions of it were made in 1200 BCE. Different cultures around the globe have adopted firewalking as a means of demonstrating religious devotion, initiation into secret societies, adulthood, and healing through faith.

Firewalking can be found in almost every culture, from the Sawau of Beqa Island on the Isles of Fiji to Eastern Orthodox Christians of Greece.

Firewalking is a science-based skill that requires confidence, not magic. Properly performed, the layer of ash as well as certain properties of thermodynamics protect the feet from being burnt. It’s not just bravado. The confident, steady walk of a fire walker is also a way to protect your feet. You should step flat-footed on the Ash and push off slowly and evenly to keep the barrier between your feet, the hot coals below, and your feet from being burned. You’ll burn yourself if you lose your cool or rush.

Find a group that has been practicing the firewalk regularly to celebrate International Firewalk Day. You’ll feel the amazing and transformative effects of walking confidently on a bed of hot coals if you carefully observe and follow the guidance of someone who is familiar with the firewalk.

Although the science behind the practice is well-known, its transformative properties cannot be overlooked. Terry Pratchett put it best: “It doesn‚Äôt stop being magic just as you know how it works.”