Laba Festival
Date: the eigth day of the twelfth lunar month
In China, the twelfth month of the lunar year is called "la month".
Together with the Chinese name for the number eight (ba) the festival is called "Laba" Festival. The origins of this festivity date back to the ancient chinese "la ceremony" that was held whenever there was a bumper harvest to thank for the god's blessings.
After the ceremony, people would entertain their family and neighbours by serving porridge made of the newly harvested broomcorn millet. In the 5th century the governemnt fixed the date of the festival to the eigth day of the 12th lunar month.