The origin of eating Laba porridge on Laba Festival. Who is it to commemorate?

The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month every year is the traditional Chinese festival - Laba Festival. On this day, there is a custom of eating Laba porridge in many areas. Next, let’s take a look at the origin of Laba porridge.

The Origin of Eating Laba Congee on Laba Festival

Origin

The custom of eating Laba porridge on Laba Festival originated in India and is related to Sakyamuni, the founder of ancient Indian Buddhism. Legend has it that Sakyamuni practiced asceticism for six years before attaining enlightenment. During these six years, he only ate one grain of hemp and one grain of rice every day. One day, while bathing in the river, he ate the gruel given by the shepherdess Sujata, and attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Chyle is milk porridge, which is said to be the predecessor of Laba porridge. Later, in order to commemorate Sakyamuni and thank the shepherdess, Sakyamuni's disciples would go to the streets to beg for alms with bowls in their hands on the Laba Day every year. They would cook the rice, dates, etc. they begged into porridge and distribute it to the hungry people.

Origin 2

There is another theory about the origin of eating Laba porridge on Laba Festival. It is said that a long time ago, the son of Zhuanxu, one of the five ancient emperors, turned into a fierce ghost after committing a crime, and liked to come out on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month to scare children. Under the prayers of the people, Nuwa, the goddess of blessing the country, told an old lady in a dream that on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, she should feed her children porridge made with red beans and adzuki beans, so that evil spirits would not invade them. This kind of porridge is what we call Laba porridge.

Origin three

There is also a story about eating Laba porridge on Laba Festival, and it has a lot to do with Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty. It is said that Zhu Yuanzhang's family was relatively poor when he was a child, and he made a living by herding cattle for a wealthy family. Once, when Zhu Yuanzhang was returning from herding cattle, the cattle accidentally slipped and fell off a bridge, breaking its leg. When the old rich man found out, he beat Zhu Yuanzhang severely and locked him in the woodshed without allowing him to eat. However, Zhu Yuanzhang found a rat hole in the woodshed and found rice, beans, red dates, etc. in it. He was smart and cooked all these things together, and they tasted especially delicious. Later, when Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor, he remembered this incident and asked the imperial chef to cook it again. That day happened to be the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.