ThemajorityHanChinesehavelongfollowedthetraditionofeatinglabariceporridgeontheeighthdayofthetwelfthlunarmonth.Thedateusuallyfallsinmin-JanuaryandisatraditionalChinesefestival.
LegendabouttheoriginofthisfestivityaboundsOnemaintainsthatover3,000yearsagosacrificialriteswereheldinthetwelfthlunarmonthwhenpeopleoffereduptheirpreytothegodsofheavenandearth.TheChinesecharactersforthehuntandthetwelfthmonth(lieandla)wereinterchangeablethen,andeversincelahasbeenusedtorefertoboth.Sincethefestivalwasheldontheeighthdayofthelastmonth,peoplelaterappendedthenumbereighth(bainChinese),givingusthecurrentlaba.