On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, we celebrate the first festival of December, the traditional Chinese "Laba Festival," commonly known as "Laba."

The origin of Laba Festival

According to historical records, starting from the pre-Qin period, the Laba Festival was established for worshiping ancestors and deities. On this day, people prayed for a bountiful harvest and prosperity for humans and animals. Traditionally, this day also signals the beginning of the "year-end," and households start getting busy with preparations for the upcoming Spring Festival. People engage in activities such as writing couplets, making paper-cut window decorations, buying New Year paintings, festive lanterns, firecrackers, candles, and more. There's a folk saying, "Don't make your mouth water, children, because after Laba Festival, the Chinese New Year is around the corner."

Laba Festival customs

Eating Laba rice porridge

The tradition of eating Laba rice porridge in China has a history of over a thousand years. People often start preparations on the night before Laba, and by Laba morning, they have completed the task. The porridge is either consumed within the family or shared with neighbors and friends. The exchange of warm porridge symbolizes the continuation of warmth and affection.

The ingredients in Laba rice porridge carry symbolic meanings: lily represents harmony, longan signifies family reunion, chestnut symbolizes great luck, walnut represents family happiness, and other ingredients like glutinous rice, red beans, sweet dates, peanuts, etc. Each ingredient carries the wish for a better and prosperous life.

Soaking Laba garlic

In the northern regions, Laba Festival is considered an auspicious time for preparing pickled garlic. Garlic cloves are peeled and soaked in aged vinegar, sealed and left to infuse. When unveiled on Spring Festival's Eve, the magic of time is witnessed: the garlic cloves take on a jade-like appearance, infused with the aromatic essence of vinegar, making it an excellent accompaniment to dumplings.

Drying Laba tofu

In the southern regions, some households prepare Laba tofu, where round tofu pieces are coated with a layer of saltwater. A small hole is made in the center, and salt is added, followed by drying the tofu under gentle sunlight to remove excess moisture. The salt gradually blends into the tofu, creating a memorable taste of home.

Laba Festival activities

Tanzhe Temple

Tanzhe Temple has a tradition of offering Laba rice porridge on Laba Festival. It is a common practice for many old Beijing residents to come to Tanzhe Temple on that day for a bowl of Laba rice porridge.

The Laba rice porridge at Tanzhe Temple is meticulously prepared with a selection of high-quality ingredients, including premium rice, black glutinous rice, chestnuts, peanuts, lotus seeds, and more than ten other ingredients. It is nourishing and beneficial for spleen health, appetite stimulation, heart clearance, and blood nourishment, making it an excellent nourishing food for the winter season.

This year, Tanzhe Temple has once again prepared Laba rice porridge, hoping to bring auspiciousness and peace to everyone throughout the four seasons.

Time: Around 9:00 am at the Laba Festival

Location: Diwangshu Square, Tanzhe Temple

Dongyue Temple

Beijing Dongyue Temple was established in the sixth year of the Yuan Dynasty. The temple consists of three main architectural groups: East, West, and Central. Along the central axis, there are six buildings. In 1997, the Beijing Folk Museum was established within the temple.

Since August 1, 2023, Beijing Folk Museum and its branches have reopened to the public after renovation. After more than two years of ancient building restoration and preservation, the over 700-year-old Dongyue Temple reveals its true appearance again, and more than 400 sets of exquisite cultural relics in the museum's collection are once again on display for the audience.

The tradition of distributing rice porridge on Laba Festival has been a long-standing practice at the Beijing Folk Museum. In the early morning of the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, various ingredients such as glutinous rice, black rice, coix seed, lotus seeds, red beans, and red dates are carefully processed and stewed, producing a fragrant, soft, and sweet Laba rice porridge.

Time: 9:00-11:00 am at the Laba Festival

Location: Front square of Dongyue Temple

Yunju Temple

This Laba Festival, Yunju Temple will continue the tradition of distributing porridge.

Free blessing cards will be distributed on-site, and visitors can walk to the small square near the bell tower (inside the temple) to pray and make a wish for the upcoming new year.

Additionally, there will be a calligraphy teacher on-site to guide visitors in writing blessings. Each stroke and character written down will carry New Year's wishes, allowing everyone to take home the heartfelt blessings and auspiciousness.

Time: 9:00-12:00 am at the Laba Festival

Location: She Zhou Zhai of Yunju Temple

*Friendly reminder: Laba rice porridge is free to taste, but the quantity is limited, available while supplies last.

Translator: TANG Yuxin

Reviewer: JIANG Wenyi