Laba Festival
26 January 2026 · movable holiday — Warm porridge, starry steam – Warm porridge, starry steam – the Lunar New Year is drawing near!
Laba is a traditional Chinese festival held on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month. Its name comes from “la”, the old name for the 12th lunar month. The central custom is cooking and sharing Laba porridge (Laba zhou), made from grains, beans and dried fruit, often eight ingredients. In the Buddhist tradition it is also remembered as the day Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment, so temples prepare a special porridge. In the folk calendar Laba signals that the Chinese New Year is approaching, and preparations for family reunions begin. In some regions people also make Laba garlic, pickled in vinegar until it turns green. Because the festival follows the lunar calendar, its Gregorian date changes every year, usually falling between late December and late January. In 2026 it falls on 26 January.
Flying across the sky: An ethereal, bluish-silver figure of a large round bowl drawn from luminous dots and fine connecting lines, like a constellation drifting across the sky
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