Laba Festival: How Would Chinese People Celebrate It?

The Laba Festival is an important cultural celebration in China. It is held on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month. In Chinese, the 12th lunar month is called "la yue" and "eight"?is pronounced "ba".?This is where the name of the festival comes from. The Day of La was officially set on the eighth (ba) day during the Han Dynasty (202BC-AD220).?

Laba?is regarded as the prelude to the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) and is often associated with praying for good fortune and a bountiful harvest.

During the festival, people traditionally eat Laba porridge made with various ingredients like rice, beans, and dried fruits. It is a time for families to come together, give thanks, and enjoy the festive spirit.

In the north, people also used to participate in various activities such as worshipping ancestors, making Laba garlic and Laba vinegar. These activities hold cultural and religious significance, bringing people together to honor their heritage and indulge in traditional culinary delights.

Legend of Laba Festival

There are several legends about the origin of the Laba Festival.?

A rather famous one believed that the festival was originated from a Buddhist legend in which Gautama Buddha was given porridge by a village girl, leading him to attain enlightenment. This tradition of offering porridge as charity to the hungry on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month was later adopted in China, hence the Laba Festival and the tradition of having porridge on the day.

Another legend is related to the founder and the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu established the Laba Festival to commemorate his humble origins and the importance of endurance during difficult times.

Traditions of Laba Festival

1.?Offering Sacrifices to Ancestors

During the Laba Festival, Chinese people traditionally pray to their ancestors and offer offerings to ensure fortune and a prosperous harvest. This includes food, tea, wine, and burning incense. However, as times have changed, these customs have become simplified.

2. Eating Laba Porridge

Laba porridge is a traditional dish that is consumed during the Laba Festival. It is made with a variety of ingredients and is considered to be a nutritious food. Eating Laba porridge on this day is still an important custom in some parts of China, particularly in northern regions.

3. Making Laba Garlic and Laba Vinegar

The tradition of preserving Laba garlic with vinegar is widely practiced in northern China. The process involves placing peeled garlic cloves in a container, pouring vinegar over them, and allowing it to soak in a cold place for several days before it turns emerald green. Laba garlic goes perfectly with dumplings during the Chinese New Year.

The date of the Laba Festival?is determined by the Chinese lunar calendar, which?changes every year but is always somewhere in the period from?late December?to?early January.?This year, the Laba Festival falls on January 18th, 2024.