腊八节和腊八粥Laba festival and laba Porridge

腊八节(Laba Festival)

腊八的英文就是汉语拼音Laba，农历12月在中国被称作腊月，即“12th lunar month”。因此，这一天也可以翻译为the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month。

The Laba Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the eighth day of the twelfth month of the lunar Chinese calendar. "La" represents the 12th lunar month，and "ba" means eight.

腊八节来源于古代欢祝丰收的敬神仪式，最早可追溯到古代的傩。人们通过载歌载舞来传达“祭祀祖先、祈求丰收”的美好心愿。

Laba Festival, the original ancient harvest celebrations, thanks to ancestors and gods rituals, in addition to worship ancestors the activities, but also by people infected. This activity comes from the ancient Nuo.

作为巫术活动的腊月击鼓驱疫之俗，今在湖南新化等地区仍有留存。后演化成纪念佛祖释伽牟尼成道的宗教节日。夏代称腊日为“嘉平”，商代为“清祀”，周代为“大蜡”，南北朝开始才固定在腊月初八。

The activities of the twelfth lunar month as the witchcraft epidemic of custom drum drive, this and other areas in Hunan is still retained Xinhua. Later evolved into a commemoration of the Buddha Sakyamuni Road religious holiday. Xia said the December date, "Ka-ping," Shang was "clear Si", Zhou as "big wax"; before the Northern and Southern started the eighth day.

There is an old saying: Don't make your mouth water children, because the Laba Festival and the Spring Festival are just around the corner. Laba is celebrated on the eighth day of the last lunar month, referring to the traditional start of celebrations for the Chinese New Year. "La" in Chinese means the 12th lunar month, and "ba" means eight.俗话说：“小孩小孩你别馋，过了腊八就是年。”腊八节是农历12月初八，这一天象征着庆祝中国传统新春佳节的开始。“腊”代表一年中农历最后一个月，而“八”代表第八天。

腊八粥(Laba porridge)

聊完腊八节，我们来说说腊八粥。民间流传着很多腊八粥的传说。

腊八粥由多种食材熬制而成，不同地区用料各不相同，主要食材有糯米(glutinous rice)、红豆(red beans)、小米(millet)、高粱(Chinese sorghum)、花生(peanuts)、莲子(dried lotus seeds)、枣子(dried dates)、杏仁(almond)、栗子(chestnuts)、核桃(walnut）等。

粥要熬制数小时，然后作为祭品祭献给祖先。渐渐的，每个中国家庭都会在腊八节喝腊八粥。如今，腊八粥也已成为一种团聚、丰收、长寿和财富的美好象征。腊八粥 The Laba porridge  腊八粥，表达为“laba porridge”；“la”即“腊”，农历12月就是“腊月”，即“12th lunar month”。腊八就是腊月初八，这天要喝的腊八粥也称八宝粥，即“babao porridge(eight treasures)”。

The porridge must be boiled for many hours and then offered as a sacrifice to the ancestors. Virtually every household in China eats Laba porridge on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.Today, Laba porridge serves as a symbol of reunion, good fortune, long life and fruitful harvest.

The laba porridgeis not only a yummy traditional rite in China to mark the laba festival but also a delicacy  good for health.腊八节喝腊八粥是中国传统习俗，腊八粥不仅好喝，对身体也十分有益。