Laba Festival, also known as Laba, is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the eighth day of La Month, the twelfth month in Chinese Lunar Calendar. It had not fallen on a fixed day until the Northern and Southern dynasties, when it was influenced by Buddhism and got a fixed time on the eighth day of twelfth month, which was also the enlightenment day of the Buddha.

Origin

In ancient times, people worshiped ancestors and gods (like the door-god, kitchen-god and well god) to pray for harvest and happiness in the next year.

Later, in the early Qin Dynasty, the festival was usually celebrated on the third Xu day after the Winter Solstice. Then in the Northern and Southern dynasties, Buddhism was introduced into China. Influenced by region, the festival was in celebration of the foundation of Buddhism as well.

Customs

• Ancestor worship

At the end of the year, working people get more free time to prepare for the offering to the ancestors. The reason the 12th lunar month is called La Yue has a lot to do with the custom of offering.

• Eat laba congee

The laba congee is also called Qi Bao Wu Wei Zhou (literally meaning the congee with seven treasures and five tastes). The custom, eating Laba congee, originated from the Song Dynasty, said to commemorate Yue Fei, a hero in the Song Dynasty. The earliest form of this dish was cooked with red beans and has since developed into many different kinds. It is mainly made up of many kinds of rice, beans, peanuts, dried fruit, lotus seeds, etc. Depending on region-based variations in China, it can also include tofu, potato, meat and vegetables. In Beijing, laba congee is a delicacy. The congee, whose basement is rice, includes over 20 kinds of ingredients like pearl barley, small red bean, millet, red date, lotus seed, walnut and chestnut etc.

• Preparation the coming Spring Festival

Chinese people consider the Laba Festival to be the beginning of the Spring Festival, the most important festival for Chinese people.

• Other Delicacies

Laba Noodle Soup: In northern China, eating Laba noodle soup is obligatory, and is made with eight different shredded ingredients and hot chili pepper.

Laba Garlic: The Laba garlic is a vinegar-preserved garlic. Its refined color is green and its taste is sour and slightly spicy.