Laba Festival, also known as the "Dharma Treasure Festival", "Buddha Enlightenment Festival" or "Enlightenment Meeting", is one of the traditional Chinese festivals, which is held on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. This festival has a long history and deep cultural connotations.
The origin of Laba Festival is related to Buddhism and is said to commemorate the day when Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. At the same time, in Chinese folk, Laba Festival is also an important time to worship ancestors and gods, pray for a good harvest and auspiciousness. It is believed that the arrival of Laba means that the New Year is approaching, so the Laba Festival also kicks off the Spring Festival celebrations.
Among the traditional customs of Laba Festival, the most well-known is to drink Laba porridge. Laba porridge, also known as "Qibao Five-Flavor Porridge", is made from a variety of grains, beans, dried fruits, etc., which is nutritious and auspicious. Different regions will also add different ingredients according to local characteristics and customs, so that Laba porridge presents a rich and colorful style.
In addition, pickled foods such as laba garlic and laba vinegar are also unique food customs of this festival. These rich folk activities and food culture together constitute the unique charm of Laba Festival, carrying people's gratitude for the past year and good expectations for the new year. Then, do you know how much do you know about Laba congee, Laba garlic, and the food culture of Laba during the Laba Festival?
1) Laba congee. Laba porridge is the iconic food of Laba Festival and a traditional custom of the Chinese. It is made from a variety of grains and dried fruits, which is rich in nutritional value and has a unique flavor. Depending on the region and family habits, the ingredients of Laba congee will also vary, but it usually includes rice, millet, red beans, mung beans, soybeans, black beans, red dates, longan, lotus seeds, peanuts, etc.
On the day of Laba Festival, people get up early to make Laba porridge to pray for a good harvest and family harmony in the coming year. Laba porridge is not only a delicacy, but also a cultural inheritance and spiritual sustenance.
2) Laba garlic. Laba garlic is a common food custom in the northern region, and it is also one of the important foods of Laba Festival. It is pickled from garlic and has a turquoise color and a sweet and sour taste. On the day of Laba Festival, people pickle the new garlic in vinegar and sugar and place it in a cool place to let it slowly turn green.
Pickled laba garlic can be used to accompany meals or porridge, and can also be used to make other dishes. In the northern region, laba garlic is a very popular food and a must-have dish at family gatherings and festivals.
3: Laba noodles. Laba noodles is a traditional food in Shaanxi and one of the indispensable delicacies of the Laba Festival. It is noodles made from flour and served with a variety of vegetables and spices. In Shaanxi, people will eat Laba noodles on the day of Laba Festival to celebrate the festival, believing that it can ward off evil spirits and avoid disasters, and pray for peace and happiness.
4: Laba beans. Laba beans are a traditional food in Hunan and Hubei, and they are also one of the delicacies of the Laba Festival. It is a soy product made from soybeans that has been fermented and cooked. Laba beans are delicious and nutritious, and can be used to accompany meals or make other dishes. In Hunan and Hubei regions, people will eat Laba beans on the day of Laba Festival to celebrate the festival, believing that it can ward off the cold and keep warm and enhance immunity.
5: Laba Chicken. Laba chicken is a traditional food in Anhui and one of the delicacies of the Laba Festival. It is made from chicken meat that has been marinated and dried. In the Anhui region, a rooster is slaughtered on the day of Laba Festival, pickled and dried for Chinese New Year. The taste of laba chicken is delicious and the meat is tough and chewy, and it can be used to make other dishes or eaten as is.
6) Laba tofu. Laba tofu is a traditional food in Yunnan and one of the delicacies of the Laba Festival. It is made from tofu after it has been pickled and dried. In the Yunnan region, people make Laba tofu on the day of Laba Festival to be eaten during the Chinese New Year. Laba Tofu has a delicious flavor and a tough and chewy texture, which can be used to make other dishes or eaten directly.
In addition to the above foods, there are many other Laba diets in different regions. For example, in Fujian, people eat "Fu Tangerine" as a sign of good luck, and in Taiwan, people eat "long-term vegetables" to pray for longevity and health. These food customs not only enrich people's food life, but also inherit the traditional Chinese culture and national spirit.
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