This Custom Has Been Over 1,000 Years 这个习俗已经有一千多年腊八Eating Laba Porridge Custom 吃腊

腊八

Eating Laba Porridge Custom 吃腊八粥的习俗

The custom first originated in the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279) and became popular in the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). Now it has been over one thousand years that the Chinese people eat Laba Congee on Laba Festival day. As is known to all, since ancient times Chinese people have attached great importance to growing crops, so when the land bears a good harvest after years of hard work, the farmers will show great appreciation by sacrificing to the ancestors, and heaven and earth. Boiling Laba Congee is one way people celebrate their harvest.

This Custom Has Been Over 1,000 Years 这个习俗已经有一千多年

这个习俗最早来源于宋朝（960-1279年），在清朝（1644-1911年）流行起来。中国人在腊八节吃腊八粥的习俗至今已有一千多年的历史。众所周知，中国人自古以来就非常重视农作物种植，因此，当经过多年辛劳耕种而获得丰收时，农民会以祭祀祖先、以及天地来感恩天赐。煮腊八粥是人们庆祝丰收的一种方式。

腊八

The ingredients of Laba Porridge are various items that are full of nutrition. It is made of diversified rice (glutinous rice, oats, corns etc.), beans (soy beans, mung beans, kidney beans, cowpeas etc.), dried nuts (chestnuts, almonds, peanuts, etc.), bean curd and meat. Melon seeds, lotus seeds, pine nuts, sugar, and other preserved fruits are added to give more flavors. After 10 centuries of development, there are now over one hundred different cooking methods.

腊八

腊八粥的食材丰富多样、富含营养。它由多种稻谷（糯米、燕麦、玉米等）、豆类（黄豆、绿豆、四季豆、豇豆等）、坚果干（栗子、杏仁、花生等）以及豆腐和肉制成。更会加入瓜子、莲子、松子、糖和果脯以增加更多风味。经过10个世纪的发展后，现在已有100多种不同的烹调方式。

After hours of boiling, the porridge is offered as a sacrifice to the ancestors and is presented to friends before noon. Family members eat Laba Porridge together and leave some, symbolizing a good harvest next year. Some kind people hand out the porridge to the poor to show their pity. And in some regions people believe that pasting porridge on the flowers and fruit trees indicates the blossom of flowers and good fruition.

经过几个小时的熬制，腊八粥会在中午前拿去祭祀祖宗以及款待好友。家人一起喝腊八粥，最后会剩下一些，寓意来年的丰收。一些好心的人把腊八粥分发给穷人以示同情。在有些地方，人们认为把腊八粥浇在花朵和水果树上预示着花朵盛开和硕果累累。

腊八

Laba Porridge is now regarded as a very nutritious food in winter that has the function of strengthening the spleen, stimulating the appetite, and soothing the nerves. It is welcomed by all people of different ages.

如今，腊八粥已被视为冬季营养丰富的食物，有健脾、开胃和安神的作用。受到各年龄层人们的喜爱。

（来源：

Travel China Guide

）

（感谢世界卫生组织新发传染病监测研究与培训合作中心陈伟师博士提供专业指导）

统筹：宁可儿

制作：曦檬子