The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month is Laba Festival. The northern region is busy peeling garlic, making vinegar and eating Laba porridge, but the south is very quiet. Many years ago, people in Guangzhou celebrated many festivals, such as winter solstice, August 28, 2008 and so on. But Laba is rarely mentioned. Without the habit of this festival, Laba seems to be a typical northern festival. Some people in Guangdong have also eaten Laba porridge, but it is mainly in the Pearl River Delta area, which is a custom brought by Hakkas in the north, but the materials used to make Laba porridge have always been different. Millet and red dates are used in the north, and glutinous rice, lily and lotus seeds are used in the south.

China has been drinking Laba porridge for more than 1000 years. It first started in the Song Dynasty. On the day of Laba, whether it is the imperial court, the government, temples, or the people's homes, Laba porridge will be cooked. In the Qing Dynasty, the custom of drinking Laba porridge became more popular. At court, emperors, queens and princes give laba porridge to civil and military ministers and attendants, and distribute rice and fruit to monasteries for monks to eat. In the folk, every household should also make laba porridge to worship their ancestors; At the same time, family members get together for dinner and give gifts to relatives and friends.