農(nóng)歷臘月初八是臘八節(jié)(the Laba Festival),在這一天,人們會喝臘八粥。喝臘八粥這一傳統(tǒng)起源于印度佛教,在中國已有1,000多年的歷史。在那一天,許多寺廟都會以大米、花生、胡蘿卜、紅棗等為原料做臘八粥。臘八粥被認為具有吉祥和長壽的寓意,因此人們也稱其為“福壽粥”或“福德粥”。在古代,臘八節(jié)時每個家庭都會煮臘八粥,并祭祀他們的祖先。然后,所有的家庭成員聚在一起喝粥。
The Laba Festival is on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. People will have Laba porridge on this day. This tradition of having Laba porridge, originating from Indian Buddhism, has a history of over one thousand years in China. On that day, Laba porridge would be cooked in many temples, with ingredients such as rice, peanuts, carrots and dates. Since Laba porridge was believed to be blessed with good fortune and longevity, it was also called “Longevity Blessing Porridge” or “Virtue Blessing Porridge”. In ancient times, every family would make Laba porridge and offer sacrifice to their ancestors on the Laba Festival. Then all family members would get together to have the porridge.