腊八节臘八節 Laba Festival

Summary

Laba (腊八节) falls on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month — in late December or January — and marks the run-up to the New Year. The day’s food is Laba porridge (腊八粥), a warming mix of grains, beans, nuts and dried fruit.

History

The name comes from là (腊), the twelfth-month winter sacrifices to ancestors and gods. The festival later fused with Buddhism: the eighth of the twelfth month is held to be the day the Buddha attained enlightenment after a shepherdess revived him with milk-rice, and temples have ladled out free porridge to mark it for centuries.

What people do

Families and temples cook Laba porridge from eight or more ingredients and share it with neighbours. In the north people also start “Laba garlic” (腊八蒜) — garlic steeped in vinegar that turns jade-green by New Year — to eat with the holiday dumplings.

Festival idioms

• 五谷丰登五穀豐登 wǔ gǔ fēng dēng ㄨˇ ㄍㄨˇ ㄈㄥ ㄉㄥ ng5 guk1 fung1 dang1 abundant harvest of all food crops
• 喜气洋洋喜氣洋洋 xǐ qì yáng yáng ㄒㄧˇ ㄑㄧˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄧㄤˊ hei2 hei3 joeng4 joeng4 full of joy (idiom); jubilation
• 丰衣足食豐衣足食 fēng yī zú shí ㄈㄥ ㄧ ㄗㄨˊ ㄕˊ fung1 ji1 zuk1 sik6 having ample food and clothing (idiom); well fed and clothed
• 国泰民安國泰民安 guó tài mín ān ㄍㄨㄛˊ ㄊㄞˋ ㄇㄧㄣˊ ㄢ gwok3 taai3 man4 on1 the country prospers, the people at peace (idiom); peace and prosperity
• 粗茶淡饭粗茶淡飯 cū chá dàn fàn ㄘㄨ ㄔㄚˊ ㄉㄢˋ ㄈㄢˋ cou1 caa4 daam6 faan6 plain tea and simple food

Public-holiday status

• Mainland China Observance
• Taiwan Observance
• Hong Kong Observance
• Macau Observance

Lunar and Western dates

On this site

• Dishes: Laba Festival

Further reading

• Laba Festival — Wikipedia