The traditional Chinese Laba Festival occurs on December 8 (the Chinese lunar calendar), and Chinese people will eat rice porridge mixed with different kinds of ingredients on this day.

Having rice porridge has a history of over one thousand years in China. This tradition originated from Indian Buddhism. Legend has it that Sakyamuni became a Buddhist under a banyan on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. Afterwards, people would have rice porridge on this day in memory of the Buddha’s sufferings. Also, Laba rice porridge would be cooked on this day in temples in many places, with rice, nutlet, millet, etc. as the raw material. It would be sacrificed to the Buddha first and then given out to disciples and the poor. Since Laba rice porridge was believed to be blessed with good fortune and longevity, it was also called "Longevity Blessing Porridge" and "Virtue Blessing Porridge".

Since then Laba rice porridge was prepared on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month in courts, officials' mansions, temples and common people's homes. This custom became more prevalent in the Qing Dynasty. On this day, the emperor, empress and princes in the royal court would bestow Laba rice porridge to civil and military ministers as well as attendants and maids of honor. Also, they would give out rice, fruits and other materials to monks in temples. Meanwhile, every common family would cook Laba rice porridge and offer sacrifice to their ancestors. Then all family members would get together to have the porridge.