Laba Festival Celebrated across China

Children enjoy Laba porridge at Xuanzang Temple in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, Jan 2, 2020, which marks the traditional Laba Festival in China. The Laba Festival is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival and one tradition says that eating the porridge will bring happiness in the coming year. [Photo by Cui Xiao for chinadaily.com.cn]

A parent feeds his child Laba porridge at Yonghe Lama Temple in Beijing, Jan 2, 2020, which marks the traditional Laba Festival in China. [Photo by Wang Jing/chinadaily.com.cn]

A foreign disciple of the Shaolin Temple, located at the foot of Songshan Mountain, Henan province, gives Laba porridge to people, Jan 2, 2020. [Photo by Yuan Xiaoqiang for chinadaily.com.cn]

Staff members give people Laba porridge at Shanghai's Jade Buddha Temple, Jan 2, 2020. [Photo by Zhou Dongchao for chinadaily.com.cn]

People line up to get Laba porridge distributed by employees at a time-honored pharmacy in Bozhou, Anhui province, Jan 2, 2020. [Photo by Liu Qinli for chinadaily.com.cn]

People get Laba porridge at Sanguan Temple in Weifang, Shandong province, Jan 2, 2020. [Photo by Wang Jilin for chinadaily.com.cn]

People line up to get Laba porridge at the Laba Festival in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, Jan 2, 2020. [Photo by Ben Jiamin for chinadaily.com.cn]

Sanitation workers enjoy free breakfast and Laba porridge at a restaurant in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, Jan 2, 2020. [Photo by Yuan Jingzhi for chinadaily.com.cn]

Visitors have a taste of Laba porridge at Yonghe Lama Temple, Beijing, on Jan 2, 2020, which marks the traditional Laba Festival in China. [Photo by Zhao Jingwen for chinadaily.com.cn]

A child enjoys a spoonful of Laba porridge at Yonghe Lama Temple, Beijing, on Jan 2, 2020, which marks the traditional Laba Festival in China. [Photo by Zhao Jingwen for chinadaily.com.cn]