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Laba Festival: Laba Rice Porridge

今天吃臘八粥了么?——臘八節(jié)的來歷和習(xí)俗

Introduction

臘八節(jié)簡介

The Laba Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday observed on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. In China, it is customary on this day to eat Laba Congee. The date usually falls in mid-January. La in Chinese means the 12th lunar month and ba means eight.

農(nóng)歷十二月初八是中國的傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日臘八節(jié)，這一天的習(xí)俗是吃臘八粥，通常是在陽歷1月中旬。“臘”在中國表示農(nóng)歷的第十二個月，“八”表示初八。

History

歷史

Before the Qin Dynasty Laba festival was a celebration of the new harvest. The Chinese characters for prey (獵) and the twelfth month (臘 La) were interchangeable then, and ever since La has been used to refer to both.

在秦朝以前，臘八節(jié)是為了慶祝豐收。中國漢字里的“獵”和“臘”在那個時候是通用的，也就是從那里起“臘”有了雙層意思。

Legend

傳說

The eight-treasure porridge was first introduced to China in the Song Dynasty about 1000 years ago. Buddhism was well accepted in the areas inhabited by the Han Chinese, who believed that Sakyamuni, the first Buddha and founder of the religion, attained enlightenment on the eighth day of the twelfth month. Sutras were chanted in the temples and rice porridge with beans, nuts and dried fruit was prepared for the Buddha. With the passing of time the custom extended, especially in rural areas where peasants would pray for a plentiful harvest in this way.

臘八粥最早是在1000多年前的宋代被引入中國。佛教當時廣泛被中國的漢族接受，他們相信佛教的創(chuàng)始者釋迦牟尼，于臘月初八這一天悟道成佛。寺廟里吟頌佛經(jīng)，準備含有豆類、堅果和干果的粥來紀念佛祖。隨著時間的推移，這個風俗慢慢的流傳，特別是在農(nóng)村地區(qū)，農(nóng)民們以這樣的方式祈求來年的豐收。

There is, however, another touching story: When Sakyamuni was on his way into the high mountains in his quest for understanding and enlightenment, he grew tired and hungry. Exhausted from days of walking, he passed into unconsciousness by a river in India. A shepherdess found him there and fed him her lunch -- porridge made with beans and rice. Sakyamuni was thus able to continue his journey. After six years of strict discipline, he finally realized his dream of full enlightenment on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

不過，還有一個感人的故事是這樣的：釋迦牟尼在前往高山修道的途中，又累又餓。數(shù)日的旅途奔波使他精疲力竭，昏迷在印度一條河邊，一個牧羊女發(fā)現(xiàn)了他并喂他吃飯——豆類和大米混合的粥。釋迦牟尼因而才能繼續(xù)他的旅程。后經(jīng)六年苦行，終于在臘月初八這一天悟道成佛。

Ever since, monks have prepared rice porridge on the eve and held a ceremony the following day, during which they chant sutras and offer porridge to Buddha. Thus, the tradition of eating Laba porridge was based in religion, though with the passing of time the food itself became a popular winter dish especially in cold northern China.

自那時起，僧侶們便在臘八的前夜準備米粥，并在臘八當天舉行頌經(jīng)和敬奉佛祖儀式。因此，盡管隨著時間的推移，臘八粥成了流行的冬季食物，尤其是在中國寒冷的北方，但這個傳統(tǒng)卻是來自佛教。

Customs

習(xí)俗

Traditionally, the consumption of Laba Congee (Chinese臘八粥) was an important element of the festival. Actually eight ingredients are used, cooked with sugar to make the porridge tasty. In Northeast China, Northwest China and Jiangnan, this custom has been preserved, but it has become rarer in South China.

傳統(tǒng)上，臘八粥是臘八節(jié)重要的一部分。一般來說要用到八種原料，并加上糖使粥更美味。在中國東北，西北和江南，這個習(xí)俗被傳承了下來，但在中國南方卻已變得罕見。

Northerners prefer to use glutinous rice, red beans, dates, lotus seeds, dried long’an pulp, walnuts, pine nuts and other dried fruits in their porridge; southerners like a salty porridge prepared with rice, soybeans, peanuts, broad beans, taro, water chestnuts, walnuts, vegetables and diced meat. 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.

北方人喜歡用糯米，紅豆，紅棗，蓮子，干桂圓肉，核桃仁，松子和一些其它的干果煮粥;而南方人更喜歡用大米，大豆，花生，蠶豆，芋頭，荸薺，核桃仁，蔬菜和肉丁煮咸粥。在北方，它是加了糖的甜點，在南方，人們喜歡加鹽。還有些人喜歡放桂皮等其他調(diào)味品，以增加風味。

Controlling the heat is of great importance in making Laba porridge. At the start, the flame must be high, but the fire is then turned down to let the porridge simmer until it begins to emit a very delicious smell. The process is time-consuming but not complicated.

煮臘八粥時控制好火候是關(guān)鍵。剛開始時要大火，火焰要高，但隨后就要用微火慢燉，直到它開始散發(fā)出鮮美的味道。這個過程費時，但并不復(fù)雜。

Laba porridge is not only easy to prepare, but also a nutritious winter food because it contains amino acids, protein, vitamins and other nutrition people need. Cooked nuts and dried fruit are good for soothing nerves, nourishing one’s heart and vitality, and strengthening the spleen. Perhaps that is why it is also called babao (Eight Treasure) porridge.

臘八粥不僅制作起來很容易，而且也是營養(yǎng)豐富的冬季食品，因為它含有的氨基酸，蛋白質(zhì)，維生素和其它人體所需的營養(yǎng)，熟堅果和干果有利于舒緩神經(jīng)，滋心臟、補元氣、健脾胃。也許這就是為什么它也被稱為八寶粥。

Another Laba food is Laba garlic, which is particularly popular in northern China. Garlic is soaked in vinegar for twenty days starting from Laba festival. The garlic and vinegar is then used alongside Chinese dumplings (or jiaozi) around Chinese new year.

另一個臘八節(jié)的食物是臘八蒜，尤其在中國北方很流行。大蒜被浸泡在醋里20天之后，在春節(jié)前后被用來伴著餃子吃。