The main custom of Laba Festival is "drinking Laba porridge" and soaking Laba vinegar. China has been drinking Laba porridge for 1000 years.

"Laba" was originally a Buddhist festival, but after several generations of evolution, it gradually became a household name. According to legend, on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Sakyamuni watched the stars at night and became a Buddha. Therefore, Laba Festival is also called "Magic Weapon Festival", "Buddhist Taoist Festival" and "Taoist Society".

Folk drink Laba porridge on Laba Festival, and written records began in Song Dynasty. Since the Qing Dynasty, the annual Laba Festival, Beijing Yonghe Palace will also hold a grand Laba ceremony.

Drinking laba porridge, many northerners still like to eat eight garlic with it. Laba garlic is mainly popular in northern China, especially in North China. In Guanzhong area of Shaanxi Province, eating Laba noodles is also popular. This is mainly because in the past, some areas in northern China did not produce or produced less rice, and people ate laba noodles instead of laba porridge.

Other customs

The central plains has the custom of feeding jujube trees with laba porridge. Cut the bark of jujube tree with a knife and axe, and paste Laba porridge into the axe mark, which is called feeding jujube tree. In this way, jujube trees can bear more fruits in the coming year. There is a folk saying that "five stones are gained by chopping an axe, and ten points are gained by chopping a knife." It shows people's desire for a bumper harvest.

The above contents refer to the legends and customs of Laba Festival in Baidu Encyclopedia.