Legend has it that the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month is the day when Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, became a Buddha. Before becoming a Buddha, in order to seek the true meaning of life, he traveled all over famous mountains and rivers. One day, he went to a desolate place. Because of the long journey, he fainted from hunger.

At this time, a shepherdess came, boiled the leftovers of miscellaneous grains and dried fruits into porridge with spring water, fed him bite by bite, and finally saved him.

Later, Sakyamuni meditated under the bodhi tree and became a Buddha at the beginning of the twelfth lunar month.

To commemorate this special day, before the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, monks will hold alms bowls in the street to collect rice, chestnuts, dates, nuts and other materials. On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, porridge is cooked for people according to the proportion of porridge for shepherdess. Finally, it expanded from Buddhist charity to folk custom.

Legend has it that if you eat it, you can get the blessing of Buddha.