On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, people have the custom of eating Laba porridge. Laba porridge refers to porridge cooked with glutinous rice, millet, yellow rice, red beans, almonds and lotus seeds. This is a kind of porridge with high nutrition, which is different from ordinary porridge.

So, why does Laba eat such porridge? People have different opinions about this.

Some people say that Laba porridge is related to Zhu Yuanzhang;

Some people also say that Laba porridge is related to Yue Fei.

In fact, these statements are far-fetched. Laba porridge originated very early, which is related to the dietary customs from ancient times to winter. According to documents, as early as the Northern and Southern Dynasties, eating red bean porridge was popular in Jingchu area from winter to day. Red beans are used to cook porridge because they have the effect of eliminating diseases and strengthening the body. Winter is the beginning of yang germination, so we should eat nourishing and healthy red bean porridge.

This is the embryonic form of Laba porridge. Later, with the introduction of Buddhism into China, temples around the country gradually developed a custom, that is, on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month when Sakyamuni became a Buddha, he cooked porridge with rice, yellow rice and beans to worship the Buddha, which was called "seven treasures and five flavors porridge".

This custom is popular among the people, and it is integrated with the above-mentioned custom of eating red bean porridge from winter solstice. Over time, the custom of Laba porridge was formed. The name "Laba porridge" appeared in the Song Dynasty, indicating that the custom of Laba porridge was popular at this time at the latest. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, this custom was very popular. Until today, Laba porridge is still widely loved by the public because of its health-preserving effect.

Summary: In fact, Laba porridge has nothing to do with Zhu Yuanzhang and Yue Fei. I think it should be a long time ago, a very poor family ran out of rice, leaving only a little rice. I thought about putting all the rice together to cook a bowl of porridge, at least I can have a full meal. It turned out to be delicious after cooking, much better than just eating rice. From then on, Laba porridge became.

Now Laba porridge is not a single kind, as long as a variety of ingredients are combined together, it is called Laba porridge.