Why do people drink Laba porridge on the Laba Festival?
The customs of the Laba Festival and Laba porridge have three different legendary origins. One is to commemorate the Buddha Sakyamuni, another is the tradition of "red beans driving away ghosts," and the third is to remember the loyal minister Yue Fei.
Story One: Commemorating the Day of Enlightenment of the Buddha
It is said that the founder of Buddhism, Sakyamuni, had practiced asceticism for many years and was so weak he was almost starving. He decided not to practice asceticism anymore. At that time, a shepherdess offered him milk porridge, which gave him strength. He then sat under the Bodhi tree and attained enlightenment on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, known as the "Buddha Enlightenment Festival." On this day, temples hold recitations and follow the story of the shepherdess offering milk porridge, making porridge with fragrant grains and fruits to offer to the Buddha. Hence, the custom of eating Laba porridge on the Laba Festival emerged.
Story Two: The Legend of "Red Beans Driving Away Ghosts"
It is said that in ancient times, evil spirits would come out to scare children. These spirits were fearless of heaven or earth, but they feared red (red) beans. People believed that illnesses and poor health were caused by these epidemic ghosts. Therefore, on the Laba Festival, people cooked porridge with red beans and red small beans to ward off epidemics and bring good luck, hence the saying "red beans driving away ghosts."
Story One: Commemorating the Day of Enlightenment of the Buddha
It is said that the founder of Buddhism, Sakyamuni, had practiced asceticism for many years and was so weak he was almost starving. He decided not to practice asceticism anymore. At that time, a shepherdess offered him milk porridge, which gave him strength. He then sat under the Bodhi tree and attained enlightenment on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, known as the "Buddha Enlightenment Festival." On this day, temples hold recitations and follow the story of the shepherdess offering milk porridge, making porridge with fragrant grains and fruits to offer to the Buddha. Hence, the custom of eating Laba porridge on the Laba Festival emerged.
Story Two: The Legend of "Red Beans Driving Away Ghosts"
It is said that in ancient times, evil spirits would come out to scare children. These spirits were fearless of heaven or earth, but they feared red (red) beans. People believed that illnesses and poor health were caused by these epidemic ghosts. Therefore, on the Laba Festival, people cooked porridge with red beans and red small beans to ward off epidemics and bring good luck, hence the saying "red beans driving away ghosts."
Story Three: Remembering the Loyal Minister Yue Fei
It is said that the Laba Festival originated from people's remembrance of the loyal general Yue Fei. At that time, Yue Fei led his troops to fight against the Jin forces at Zhu Xian Town, during the severe winter. His army lacked food and clothing, and the people brought porridge to them. They ate a meal of "thousand families porridge" and achieved a great victory. That day was the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. After Yue Fei's death, the people began to make porridge with mixed grains and fruits every year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, which eventually became a tradition.
On the Laba Festival, having a bowl of hot Laba porridge is a very happy thing. As the saying goes, "After Laba comes the New Year," and once the Laba Festival is over, people begin to busy preparing for the New Year!
It is said that the Laba Festival originated from people's remembrance of the loyal general Yue Fei. At that time, Yue Fei led his troops to fight against the Jin forces at Zhu Xian Town, during the severe winter. His army lacked food and clothing, and the people brought porridge to them. They ate a meal of "thousand families porridge" and achieved a great victory. That day was the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. After Yue Fei's death, the people began to make porridge with mixed grains and fruits every year on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, which eventually became a tradition.
On the Laba Festival, having a bowl of hot Laba porridge is a very happy thing. As the saying goes, "After Laba comes the New Year," and once the Laba Festival is over, people begin to busy preparing for the New Year!
What is the meaning of eating Laba porridge on the Laba Festival?
The meanings of Laba porridge include warmth, completeness, harmony, good fortune, health, convenience, gratitude, joy, and connection.
1. Giving porridge, doing good deeds and accumulating virtue
In the past, wealthy families often made a lot of Laba porridge and gave it to the poor, beggars, and the lonely. In the cold winter, the hot Laba porridge could fill their bellies and keep them warm, which was a treat for the poor. For those who gave it, it was also a form of merit.
1. Giving porridge, doing good deeds and accumulating virtue
In the past, wealthy families often made a lot of Laba porridge and gave it to the poor, beggars, and the lonely. In the cold winter, the hot Laba porridge could fill their bellies and keep them warm, which was a treat for the poor. For those who gave it, it was also a form of merit.
2. The Porridge of Blessings and Longevity, Accumulating Blessings and Cherishing Them
It is said that the porridge of blessings and longevity originated from the Tianning Temple in Hangzhou. Monks would dry leftover rice daily, and on the Laba Festival, they would cook the dried leftover rice into Laba porridge and give it to believers, calling it "the porridge of blessings and longevity," claiming that eating it could increase blessings and longevity. Later, many temples also gave Laba porridge to believers on the Laba Festival, calling it the porridge of blessings and longevity.
3. Ingredients Representing the Five Elements, Strengthening the Body
Laba porridge has a rich variety of ingredients, including peanuts, soybeans, mung beans, red small beans, hyacinth beans, broad beans, walnuts, glutinous rice, coix seed, millet, rice, longan, lychee, red dates, osmanthus, sweet potato, pine nuts, milk mushrooms, ginkgo nuts, lily bulbs, lotus seeds, persimmons, chestnuts, and candied fruits. Different regions and families have their own variations.
According to the theory of the Five Elements in the Book of Changes, green belongs to wood and relates to the liver and gallbladder; red and purple belong to fire and relate to the heart; yellow belongs to earth and relates to the spleen; white belongs to metal and relates to the lungs; black and blue belong to water and relate to the kidneys.
It is said that the porridge of blessings and longevity originated from the Tianning Temple in Hangzhou. Monks would dry leftover rice daily, and on the Laba Festival, they would cook the dried leftover rice into Laba porridge and give it to believers, calling it "the porridge of blessings and longevity," claiming that eating it could increase blessings and longevity. Later, many temples also gave Laba porridge to believers on the Laba Festival, calling it the porridge of blessings and longevity.
3. Ingredients Representing the Five Elements, Strengthening the Body
Laba porridge has a rich variety of ingredients, including peanuts, soybeans, mung beans, red small beans, hyacinth beans, broad beans, walnuts, glutinous rice, coix seed, millet, rice, longan, lychee, red dates, osmanthus, sweet potato, pine nuts, milk mushrooms, ginkgo nuts, lily bulbs, lotus seeds, persimmons, chestnuts, and candied fruits. Different regions and families have their own variations.
According to the theory of the Five Elements in the Book of Changes, green belongs to wood and relates to the liver and gallbladder; red and purple belong to fire and relate to the heart; yellow belongs to earth and relates to the spleen; white belongs to metal and relates to the lungs; black and blue belong to water and relate to the kidneys.
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