今天是农历十二月初八
俗称“腊八”
Chinese people start their preparations for the Spring Festival more than 20 days ahead. The 12th lunar month in Chinese is called la yue, so the eighth day of this lunar month is la yue chu ba, orlaba. The day is also known as the Laba Rice Porridge Festival. The Laba this year falls on Jan 13.
Three major customs on Laba are ancestor worship, eating Laba rice porridge and making Laba garlic.
一岁之末为“腊”
“腊者，接也”
寓意着新旧交替之意
又有“腊者同猎”
人们会在这时用猎物祭祀神灵祖先
祈求丰收吉祥、福气绵延
At the end of the year, working people get more free time to prepare for the sacrifice to the ancestors. The reason the 12th lunar month is called La Yuehas a lot to do with the custom of sacrifice.
First, the worship of ancestors, called “腊” in Chinese, and the sacrifice for the gods, called “蜡”, both frequently took place in the 12th month, which led to the traditional name of the month: la yue.
Second, winter is the slack season for farmers so they have time to find things to burn in the sacrifice. The radical of “腊” represents the sacrifice of meat to one’s ancestors (“月” symbolizes meat).
“小孩小孩你别馋
过了腊八就是年”
腊八是春节的序幕
此后年味儿一天比一天浓
家家户户都要忙着做一件事——
准备过年
吃腊八粥（Laba rice porridge）
是今天的重头戏
讲究的人家从前一天晚上就开始忙碌
洗米、泡果、剥皮、去核
从夜里微火慢煮一直要熬到腊八清晨
大米、小米、糯米、紫米各种米
黄豆、红豆、绿豆、芸豆各种豆
红枣、花生、百合、桂圆各种果
一碗之内，乾坤无限
The main ingredients of the Laba porridge are rice and sticky rice; people also add sugar, red dates, lotus seeds, walnuts, chestnuts, almonds, longans, hazelnuts, raisins, red beans, peanuts, water caltrops, roseleaf and other various materials to make the porridge special.
我国喝腊八粥的历史已有一千多年
不论是朝廷官府还是寻常百姓
都会在这天做一碗腊八粥
或合家食用以享天伦
或馈赠亲朋分享喜悦
There are several legends about the origin of porridge eating on Laba: Some claim it is of Buddhist origin; some say the porridge, made of red beans, can exorcize evil from children. Others say the porridge is in memory of a poor couple.
The custom of porridge eating has been well known throughout history, from the royal court to common people.
清代雍和宫的腊八盛典极为隆重
宫内有一口重4吨古铜大锅
直径2米、深1.5米
专门用来熬制腊八粥
在北方，别忘了泡一坛
腊八蒜（Laba garlic）
蒜瓣浸醋装入小坛封严
除夕吃饺子时启封
蒜瓣如翡翠，醋融入蒜香
让人不禁多吃几个饺子
在南方，不妨晒一份腊八豆腐
豆腐块抹上盐水
上部中间挖一小洞放入食盐
置冬日温和的太阳下慢慢烤晒
别有一番风味
大概是冬日暖阳熨贴人心
亦或是甜粥香气沁人心脾
让宋代诗人陆游写下
腊月风和意已春，时因散策过吾邻。
草烟漠漠柴门里，牛迹重重野水滨。
多病所须惟药物，差科未动是闲人。
今朝佛粥交相馈，更觉江村节物新。
虽仍是腊月冬日
但暖粥相赠之间
让人不由得感觉到
那温润的春意滋长
北齐诗人魏收在腊八这一天
与众人共祭诸神时写道
凝寒迫清祀，有酒宴嘉平
宿心何所道，藉此慰中情
寒凝大地、数九隆冬
人们认真而虔诚地祭祀祖先和神灵
寄托着平凡而又庄严的生活期待
也抒发久已宿居于心中的种种情愫
此刻正在家中的你
也许正看着各种食材咕嘟咕嘟
粥越来越稠
爱越来越浓
无论你身在何处，总会有人
为你立黄昏，问你粥可温
过了腊八就是年
今年，记得早点回家
┃审发：卢冠琼
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