Laba congee meaning and cultural background
What is the significance of Laba porridge in Laba Festival? Laba Festival is also known as"Dharma Treasure Festival"It is an important traditional festival in China, usually celebrated on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. One of the specialties of Laba Festival is the delicious Laba congee. Laba porridge is not only a delicacy, but also a cultural symbol, containing profound folk connotations, and entrusting people's yearning and wishes for a better life.
According to historical records, the origin of Laba porridge can be traced back to the Song Dynasty. At that time, in Kaifeng, Tokyo, every eighth day of the lunar month, each temple had to boil"Seven treasures and five flavors porridge", that is, Laba porridge, dedicated to the Buddha. Later, this custom gradually spread among the people and became a holiday food for banks.
In addition to its Buddhist origins, Laba congee is also associated with ancient rituals. In ancient times, the wax moon was a sacrificial month, and people held various ceremonies to pray for a good harvest and peace in the coming year. As part of the rituals, Laba congee symbolizes respect for ancestors and gods, as well as the hope of a better life.
Laba congee comes in a variety of ingredients, usually including rice, beans, dried fruits, nuts and seeds. Common ones are glutinous rice, red beans, mung beans, red dates, walnuts, lotus seeds, and almonds. These ingredients are not only nutritious, but also imply a good harvest of grains and prosperity. On Laba Day, people carefully select these ingredients, mix them together, and after a long period of boiling, they will finally get a pot of fragrant, sweet and silky Laba porridge.
The process of making laba porridge itself is also symbolic. People mix various ingredients together, symbolizing unity and harmony. At the same time, cooking laba congee requires patience and time, which also symbolizes the virtues of diligence and frugality.
Here are some of the main symbolic meanings of Rakshasa:
1) Harvest and abundance: Laba congee is made from a variety of ingredients, including grains, legumes, dried fruits, and nuts. These ingredients are mixed together to make laba congee, which symbolizes a good harvest and abundance. Drinking Laba porridge on Laba Festival symbolizes that people will have a good harvest in the new year, good weather and a happy life.
2) Reunion and harmony: The production and consumption of Laba porridge usually requires the participation of the whole family, and everyone works together to make a delicious pot of Laba porridge. At this time, people can not only taste the food, but also feel the warmth and reunion of the family. Therefore, Laba congee also symbolizes family harmony and harmony.
3) Prayers and wishes: As part of the ritual, Laba congee symbolizes respect for ancestors and gods, as well as the hope of a better life. People cook laba congee to pray and wish themselves and their families peace, health, happiness, and good luck.
4) Industriousness and thrift: Making laba porridge requires patience and time, which embodies the virtue of diligence and thrift. In ancient societies, thrift was an important quality for people to survive. Therefore, Laba porridge also means that people should cherish food, save resources, and maintain the fine tradition of thrift and thrift.
5) Traditional culture: As one of the traditional Chinese festivals, Laba Festival has rich cultural connotations and folk traditions. The production of laba porridge is not only a food enjoyment, but also a cultural inheritance and continuation. By boiling and sharing Laba porridge, people pass on ancient cultural traditions and folk customs.
Laba porridge in Laba Festival has rich symbolic meanings, entrusting people's yearning and pursuit of a better life. On this day, get together with your family and enjoy a steaming bowl of laba porridge, not only to taste the food, but also to feel the festivity of the festival and the charm of traditional culture. On this special day, Laba congee not only warms our bodies, but also our hearts.