Why do humans in Fantasy and Medieval Settings insist in using generic torches?

I've always been puzzled about why everyone in medieval settings insists on carrying torches around. I know that in the early medieval period, torches must have been the only source of light based on how they were used in everyday life back then. However, I just don't see why people continue to use them even after oil lamps become prominent in the mid to late medieval period. Not to mention, if your setting is more fantasy then you can bet that a variation of the same oil lamp and torches will be used. <br><br>Why is this so? It just makes sense that these torches are so impractical that they shouldn't be used in everyday life anymore. If humans in medieval settings insist on carrying around a light source, then you would think that they would use something more practical such as an oil lamp. <br><br>**Edit: I didn't expect this to get so popular. Thanks for the feedback.**