Laba is celebrated on the eighth day of the last lunar month, referring to the traditional start of celebrations for the Chinese New Year. La in Chinese means the 12th lunar month and ba means eight.十二月的第八天就是腊八节，预示着春节的到来。

Laba rice porridge contains：

glutinous rice糯米

red beans红豆

millet小米

Chinese sorghum高粱

peanuts花生

dried lotus seeds莲子

dried dates枣子

almond杏仁

In the north, it is a dessert with sugar added; in the south, salt is put in. Some people like to add cinnamon and other condiments to add flavor.在北方，人们会在粥里放糖，而南方偏好咸味的腊八粥。有人还喜欢加入桂圆来增添味道。