Current location - Recipe Complete Network - Diet recipes - What is the origin and custom of Laba Festival?
What is the origin and custom of Laba Festival?
Laba Festival, commonly known as Laba, is the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. Laba Festival originated from La Worship, an ancient Taoist priest, and Shennong "began to tell God in La Worship", so it was formed at the end of the year to worship the agricultural valley, celebrate the harvest that year, and pray for prosperity in the coming year.

The origin of Laba Festival

The most important festival in the twelfth lunar month is the eighth day of December, which was called "La Ri" in ancient times and commonly known as "Laba Festival". Since the pre-Qin period, Laba Festival has been used to worship ancestors and gods and pray for good harvest and good luck. In addition to the activities of offering sacrifices to ancestors and worshipping gods, people also have to chase the epidemic on Laba Festival. This activity originated from Nuo in ancient times (the ritual of exorcising ghosts and avoiding epidemics in ancient times). One of the prehistoric medical methods was to exorcise ghosts and treat diseases. As a witchcraft activity, the custom of beating drums to drive away epidemics in the twelfth lunar month still exists in some areas of China.

It is said that the founder of Buddhism, Sakyamuni, attained enlightenment on the eighth day of December, so Laba is also a Buddhist festival, also known as "Buddhist Enlightenment Festival".

Laba Festival custom

1. Laba Festival Laba porridge

It's called "Qibao Wuwei porridge". China has been drinking Laba porridge for 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.

2. Eat Laba garlic on Laba Festival

Pickling Laba garlic is a custom in northern China, especially in the north. As the name implies, garlic is brewed on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

3. Eat ice on Laba Festival

On the day before Laba Festival, people usually scoop water in steel pots and freeze it. When Laba Festival comes, they will remove the ice and break it. It is said that the ice on this day is magical, and it won't hurt your stomach for a year after eating it.

4. Eat Laba tofu on Laba Festival

"Laba Tofu" is a folk specialty in Ganxian County, Anhui Province. Before Laba on the eve of the Spring Festival, that is, around the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, every household in Ganxian county will bask in tofu, which is called "Laba tofu" by the people.

5. Eat Laba noodles on Laba Festival

In some places in northern China where little or no rice is produced, people eat laba noodles instead of laba porridge. The next day, on the morning of the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the whole family will eat Laba noodles.

6. Laba Festival Sacrifice

Ying Shao's "Custom Pass" said: "The Book of Rites": A wax hunter killed animals in order to sacrifice his ancestors. Or: "If you are a wax worker, you will receive it, and if you make new friends, you will be rewarded with a big sacrifice." Its origin is very early, and the Book of Rites, Suburb Sacrifice, records: "Yi Jia is a wax. Wax is also, cable is also, in December, everything is sought. " "Supplementary Biography of Historical Records and Huang San" also said: "Shennong in Yan Di took it as a field, so it was reported to heaven and earth as a wax sacrifice." Xia dynasty called it "Jiaping", Yin dynasty called it "Qingsi", Zhou dynasty called it "Big Wax" and Han dynasty changed it to "Wax".