Once, in order to help the prince who was tormented by hunger, Jie Zitui cut off the flesh from his thigh and offered it to the prince for sustenance.

Later, when Chong'er became Duke Wen of Jin, he ordered a search for Jie Zhitui who had gone into hiding in the remote mountains with his mother.

Jie Zhitui had no political ambitions and felt ashamed to work with his hypocritical fellows, hence refused invitation of the Duke.

Duke Wen ordered the mountains to be burned down in order to force Jie out of hiding.

However, the fire ended up killing Jie and his mother.

Therefore the Festival is thus named.

In the city of Jiexiu in Shanxi Province, where Jie died, locals still remember this tradition.