Laba Festival (腊八节) is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the eighth day of Layue (臘月), the twelfth lunar month. It marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year season and serves as a prelude to the Spring Festival about three weeks later. The name “Laba” comes from La (the twelfth month) and Ba (eight), originally linked to ancient rituals of making sacrifices to eight gods for good fortune, health, and a good harvest.
In ancient China, people honored gods and ancestors on this day. After Buddhism spread to China, the festival became associated with Gautama Buddha’s enlightenment, believed to have occurred on this date. Folk customs, such as beating drums to drive away diseases and evil spirits, are still practiced in some regions.
A central tradition of the festival is eating Laba congee (腊八粥), also known as “eight-treasure congee” (八宝粥). It is made with rice, beans, nuts, and dried fruits, usually with eight or more ingredients. The number eight symbolizes luck, and the dish is believed to be nutritious and beneficial during winter.














