又到臘八粥飄香
Laba is celebrated on the eighth day of the last lunar month，referring to the traditional start of celebrations for the Chinese New Year.“La”in Chinese means the 12th lunar month and “ba”means eight. It goes on January 15ththis year.
中國農歷的十二月初八是臘八節，意味著中國傳統新年的開始。“臘”在中文中指“農歷十二月”，“八”指“8”，“臘八”即中國農歷十二月初八。今年臘八節的陽歷日期在2008年的1月15日。
Legends about the origin of this festivity abound. One holds that over 3，000 years ago sacrificial rites called “La”were held in the twelfth lunar month when people offered their preys to the gods of heaven and earth. The Chinese characters for prey and the twelfth month were interchangeable then，and ever since “La”has been used to refer to both.
關于臘八節起源的傳說有很多。其中一個是這樣：3000多年前的中國，人們一般都要在農歷十二月舉行一種名為“臘”的祭祀儀式，向天神和地神供奉他們的獵物，作為祭祀供品。當時，中國文字中的“獵物”和“十二月”二者是可以通用的，從那以后，“臘”就被用來指代“獵物”和“十二月”。
Sincethe festival was held on the eighth day of the Last month，people later appended the number eight (“ba”in Chinese)，giving us the current Laba.
由于這個節日是在農歷最后一個月的第八天，人們后來便在中文中增加了數字“八”，于是便有了現在的“臘八”。
The date of the Laba Festival usually falls in mid-January. The majority Han Chinese have long followed the tradition of eating Laba rice porridge on the Laba Festival. Laba rice porridge was first introduced to China in the Song Dynasty about 900 years ago.
臘八節的陽歷日期通常在1月中旬。大多漢人很早就有了在臘八節吃臘八粥的習俗。臘八粥大約在900年前的宋朝傳入中國。
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 rice，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.
在當時漢人居住的區域，佛教已經被廣泛接受。漢人普遍認為，佛教的第一個佛及佛教創立者釋迦牟尼在臘月初八這天悟道成佛。臘月初八這天，寺廟里的僧侶吟誦佛經，用大米、豆子、堅果、干果等做成的臘八粥被供奉在佛像前。隨著時間的流逝，這一傳統習俗沿襲下來，特別是在一些農村地區，農民們用這種方式祈求好的莊稼收成。
There is，however，another touching story：When Sakyamuni was on his way to the high mountains in his quest for understanding and enlightenment，he grew tired and hungry. Exhausted from days of walking，he fainted away 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.
關于臘八節的傳說還有另外一個感人的故事版本：釋迦牟尼在尋求修道成佛的路途中，又累又餓。一連幾天的長途跋涉，他筋疲力盡，暈倒在印度一條河邊。一個牧羊女發現了他，把她的午飯給他吃。那午飯就是用豆子和米做成的粥。釋迦牟尼由此得以繼續行程。
After six years of strict discipline，he finally realized his dream of full enlightenment on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.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.
經過6天嚴格的清規戒律，釋迦牟尼終于在農歷十二月初八實現了他修道成佛的夢想。從那以后，僧侶們每年臘月初八頭天晚上就會準備好臘八粥，第二天舉行祭祀儀式，吟誦佛經、給佛像供奉臘八粥。由此可以看出，臘八節吃臘八粥的習俗建立在佛教基礎之上。隨著時光的流逝，臘八粥已成為中國特別是北方寒冷冬天里的一種家常便飯。
According to written records，large Buddhist temples would offer Laba rice porridge to the poor to show their faith to Buddha. In the Ming Dynasty about 500 years ago，it became such a holy food that emperors would offer it to their officials during festivals. As it gained favor in the feudal upper class，it also quickly became popular throughout the country.
據有文字記載的記錄，規模較大的寺廟一般會在臘八節向窮人提供臘八粥，以示他們對佛的忠誠和信任。在大約500年前的中國明朝，臘八粥甚至變成了帝王節日期間招待大臣的“圣餐”。當臘八粥成為封建社會上層階級的喜好時，很快也就在全國流傳開來。