Laba is celebrated on the eighth day of the last lunar month, referring tothe traditional start of celebrations for the Chinese New Year. La in Chinesemeans the 12th lunar month and ba means eight. 十二月的.第八天就是臘八節，預示着春節的到來。
Laba rice porridge contains：
glutinous rice 糯米
red beans 紅豆
millet 小米
Chinese sorghum 高粱
peanuts 花生
dried lotus seeds 蓮子
dried dates 棗子
almond 杏仁
In the north, it is a dessert with sugar added; in the south, salt is putin. Some people like to add cinnamon and other condiments to addflavor. 在北方，人們會在粥裏放糖，而南方偏好鹹味的臘八粥。有人還喜歡加入桂圓來增添味道。
