The La Ba festival will fall on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, which corresponds to Tuesday, January 7th. The occasion marks the beginning of the observances associated with the Lunar New Year season, which is one of the busiest times of year.
Now one of the lesser known festivals, the seasonal celebration used to be an important part of the agricultural calendar. It corresponds with the coldest days of winter and is associated with the preparation of a special kind of porridge. Also known as “seven treasure five flavor” congee, the porridge, which usually includes mixed grains, seeds, nuts, dried fruit and sugar, is offered to ancestors and eaten for warmth and nourishment.
The porridge is also consumed in honor of the Buddha, who is believed to have attained enlightenment on this day. Accordingly, many Buddhist temples and monasteries in Taiwan will hold special ceremonies commemorating the Buddha’s awakening.