The Legend of the Evil Festival (Miao Nationality)

Every year on the thirteenth day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, the Miao family in Huangping and Shibing counties in Guizhou Province will celebrate the "Evil Eradication Festival" as usual. Why celebrate this holiday?
　　Legend has it that once upon a time there was a demon king, who was very tall and powerful, and the most hateful thing was that he specialized in stealing and eating people's cattle and horses, so that people had no cattle to plough, and no horses to carry goods. Everyone was swearing, "If only someone killed this demon." While people were expecting it, a little girl named Ani said, "I can get rid of the demons." ”
　　When people heard this, they were all amazed: "How can you kill a demon when you are so young?" ”
　　Ani said, "If you find ten baskets of broken iron, call in the most skilled blacksmith, and I will have a way to get rid of the demons." ”
　　When people heard this, they were very happy and immediately found these things. Ani immediately asked the blacksmith to cast the broken pot into three kinds of iron balls, one the size of a hoard, one the size of a water tank, and one the size of a ding pot.
　　Ani also asked everyone to make a pair of straw sandals the size of a ferryboat and put them on a big iron ball. Finally, she pulls a cow to graze next to straw sandals.
　　One day, when the demon saw the cow, he was so upset that he ran over and tried to eat it. When he came to a closer look, he found three iron balls neatly placed on the ground, and when he saw a little girl sitting on the ground, he asked loudly, "Which person's iron ball is this?" ”
　　Ani replied, "It's my father's." ”
　　"What does your dad do with iron ball?"
　　"Let's call!"
　　"Can your dad play with these things?"
　　　Ani pointed to the straw sandals and said, "What do you think this is?" Do you think my dad has a lot of strength? Can he play with these iron balls? ”
　　The demon asked, "How does your father play with these iron balls?" ”
　　Ani said, "My dad played with these iron balls as easily as the duck eggs. He threw the small iron ball into the sky and fell, and the thumb of his foot pressed against it; He threw the ball into the air and pressed it with his knee; He threw the big iron ball into the sky and held it up with his skull. Can you do it? ”
　　Unconvinced, the demon said, "What's so great about your father?" Look at mine. Then he did as Ani said, threw the small iron ball into the sky and pressed it with his thumb, but unfortunately he didn't resist it, but was smashed out of blood. Ani smiled and said, "Haha, you didn't catch it." Unconvinced, the demon threw the ball into the sky and used his knee to top it, but when he didn't hold it, a bone fell off in his knee. Ani smiled and said, "Haha, your knee hurts." ”
　　At this time, the demon was so angry that he couldn't speak, and grabbed the largest iron ball and threw it up, only as high as a tree fell down, he hurriedly used his skull to top it, who knows, with a snap, his skull bloomed.
　　When the people saw that the demon was dead, they all ran out and surrounded Ani, praising her for being a brave girl. This day is the thirteenth day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, in order to commemorate the wisdom and courage of this little girl, this day is designated as the "Evil Eradication Festival".