People eat Laba porridge at the Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) --The Laba Festival, literally the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year. It is customary to eat Laba porridge on this day.
The Laba porridge is made from a dozen varieties of grains including glutinous rice, red beans, millet, Chinese sorghum, peas, dried lotus seeds, and red beans.
Chinese people believe the festival meal of Laba porridge bears the auspicious meaning of a shared wish for harvest and abundance.
People queue up for Laba porridge at the Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)
People queue up for Laba porridge at the Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)
People queue up for Laba porridge at the Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)
Laba porridge is served at the Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)
A citizen shows a bowl of Laba porridge at the Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)
Mike Tyson breaks his silence after medical emergency
Prince Harry's new meeting with King Charles shows a thaw in frosty relations, royal experts say
Đurić scores twice as Monza hits Lazio's Champions League hopes in 2
How American protests came to be loved and loathed
US condemns loss of life, but says no policy changes after civilian deaths in Israeli strike
Juro Kara, rebel playwright behind Japan's modern underground theater, dies at 84
Last year's deadly heat wave in metro Phoenix didn't discriminate
New Orleans' own PJ Morton returns home to Jazz Fest with new music
Cyclones add Eli Green from North Dakota St. to strengthen their receiving corps
It's Cinco de Mayo time, and festivities are planned across the US. But in Mexico, not so much