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臘八節，預示著春節的到來。

Laba rice porridge contains：

glutinous rice糯米

red beans紅豆

millet小米

Chinese sorghum高粱

peanuts花生

dried lotus seeds蓮子

dried dates棗子

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，人們會在粥里放糖，而南方偏好咸味的臘八粥。有人還喜歡加入桂圓來增添味道。