又到腊八粥飘香

 　　Laba is celebrated 1 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.

　　Legends about the origin of this festivity abound 2. One holds that over 3,000 years ago sacrificial rites 3 called "La "(腊) were held in the twelfth lunar month when people offered  their preys 5 to the gods of heaven and earth. The Chinese characters for prey 4 (猎物) and the twelfth month (腊) were interchangeable then, and ever since "La" has been used to refer to both.
　　Since the festival was held on the eighth day of the Last month, people later appended the number eight ("ba" in Chinese), giving us the current Laba .
　　The majority Han Chinese have long followed the tradition of eating Laba rice porridge on the Laba Festival. The date usually falls in mid-January.
　　Legend
　　Laba rice porridge（粥） was first introduced to China in the Song Dynasty about 900 years ago.
　　Buddhism 6 was well accepted in the areas inhabited by the Han Chinese, who believed that Sakyamuni（释迦牟尼）, the first Buddha 7 and founder 8 of the religion, attained 9 enlightenment on the eighth day of the twelfth month. Sutras（佛经） were chanted in the temples and rice porridge with beans, nuts and dried fruit was prepared for the Buddha. With the passing of time the custom extended, especially in rural areas where peasants would pray for a plentiful 10 harvest in this way.
　　There is, however, another touching 11 story: When Sakyamuni was on his way into the high mountains in his quest（寻求） for understanding and enlightenment, he grew tired and hungry. Exhausted 12 from days of walking, he fainted away by a river in India. A shepherdess found him there and fed him her lunch -- porridge made with beans and rice. Sakyamuni was thus able to continue his journey.
　　After six years of strict discipline, he finally realized his dream of full enlightenment on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. Ever since, monks 13 have prepared rice porridge on the eve and held a ceremony the following day, during which they chant sutras and offer porridge to Buddha. Thus, the tradition of eating Laba porridge was based in religion, though with the passing of time the food itself became a popular winter dish especially in cold northern China.
　　According to written records, large Buddhist 14 temples would offer Laba rice porridge to the poor to show their faith to Buddha. In the Ming Dynasty about 500 years ago, it became such a holy food that emperors would offer it to their officials during festivals. As it gained favor in the feudal 15 （封建的）upper class, it also quickly became popular throughout the country.
　　Laba Rice Porridge
　　Laba rice porridge contains glutinous 16 rice （糯米）, red beans, millet 17, Chinese sorghum 18, peas, dried lotus seeds, red beans and some other ingredients, such as dried dates, chestnut 19 meat, walnut 20 meat, almond, peanut, etc. Actually eight ingredients（配料、成分） are used, cooked with sugar to make the porridge tasty.
　　Northerners prefer to use glutinous rice, red beans, dates, lotus seeds, dried pulp（果肉）, walnuts 21 （胡桃）, pine nuts and other dried fruits in their porridge; southerners like a salty porridge prepared with rice, soybeans（大豆）, peanuts, broad
　　beans, taro 22, water chestnuts 23, walnuts, vegetables and diced 24 meat. 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 25 to add flavor.
　　Controlling the heat is of great importance in making Laba porridge. At the start, the flame must be high, but the fire is then turned down to let the porridge simmer until it begins to emit a very delicious smell. The process is time-consuming but not complicated.
　　Laba porridge is not only easy to prepare, but also a nutritious 26 winter food because it contains amino acids, protein, vitamins and other nutrition people need. Cooked nuts and dried fruit are good for soothing 27 nerves, nourishing one's heart and vitality 28, and strengthening the spleen. Perhaps that is why it is also called babao (Eight Treasure) porridge.