Labaiscelebratedontheeighthdayofthelastlunarmonth,referringtothetraditionalstartofcelebrationsfortheChineseNewYear.LainChinesemeansthe12thlunarmonthandbameanseight.
Legendsabouttheoriginofthisfestivityabound.Oneholdsthatover3,000yearsagosacrificialritescalledLawereheldinthetwelfthlunarmonthwhenpeopleofferedtheirpreystothegodsofheavenandearth.TheChinesecharactersforpreyandthetwelfthmonthwereinterchangeablethen,andeversinceLahasbeenusedtorefertoboth.
SincethefestivalwasheldontheeighthdayoftheLastmonth,peoplelaterappendedthenumbereight(bainChinese),givingusthecurrentLaba.
ThemajorityHanChinesehavelongfollowedthetraditionofeatingLabariceporridgeontheLabaFestival.Thedateusuallyfallsinmid-January.