Laba Festival Blessings
Traditional Laba Festival greetings and sayings. The beginning of Spring Festival preparations.
腊八节快乐
Là bā jié kuài lè
Happy Laba Festival
General greeting for the festival
喝了腊八粥
Hē le là bā zhōu
Drank laba porridge
Referring to eating laba porridge
年味渐浓
Nián wèi jiàn nóng
The New Year atmosphere is thickening
Describing the approach of Spring Festival
喝了腊八粥，明年好兆头
Hē le là bā zhōu, míng nián hào zhào tou
Eat laba porridge, good omens for the new year
Traditional saying about laba porridge
腊八祭灶神
Là bā jì zào shén
Laba offerings to the Kitchen God
Traditional worship practice
过了腊八就是年
Guò le là bā jiù shì nián
After Laba comes the New Year
Marking the countdown to Spring Festival
腊八蒜，醉新年
Là bā suàn, zuì xīn nián
Laba garlic, intoxicated into the new year
Traditional garlic preparation for New Year
五谷丰登
Wǔ gǔ fēng dēng
Abundant harvest of all crops
Prosperity blessing for the new year
吉庆有余
Jí qìng yǒu yú
Good fortune and prosperity
Blessing for abundance
迎春接福
Yíng chūn jiē fú
Welcome spring and receive blessings
Spring Festival preparation blessing
Beginning of Spring Festival
Laba Festival marks the start of the New Year celebration
Laba Festival (腊八节) is celebrated on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month. It marks the beginning of the Spring Festival celebrations and has been observed for over 1,500 years.
The main tradition is eating Laba porridge (腊八粥), made with eight or more ingredients including rice, red beans, lotus seeds, dried longan, walnuts, peanuts, dates, and goji berries.
Families also prepare garlic in vinegar during this time, known as "Laba garlic" (腊八蒜), which turns green and is eaten with dumplings during Spring Festival.
About the Porridge
- •八宝粥 (Bā bǎo zhōu) - Eight Treasure Porridge
- •腊八粥的主要原料包括大米、红豆、桂圆、莲子等
- •The porridge symbolizes abundance and good fortune
Traditional Activities
- •祭祀祖先和神灵 - Offering sacrifices to ancestors and gods
- •泡腊八蒜 - Soaking garlic in vinegar
- •喝腊八粥 - Eating laba porridge
- •准备年货 - Preparing New Year supplies