legendabouttheoriginofthisfestivityaboundsonemaintainsthatover3,000yearsagosacrificialriteswereheldinthetwelfthlunarmonthwhenpeopleoffereduptheirpreytothegodsofheavenandearth.thechinesecharactersforthehuntandthetwelfthmonth(lieandla)wereinterchangeablethen,andeversincelahasbeenusedtorefertoboth.sincethefestivalwasheldontheeighthdayofthelastmonth,peoplelaterappendedthenumbereighth(bainchinese),givingusthecurrentlaba.
buddhismwaswellacceptedintheareasinhabitedhanchinese,whobelievedthatsakyamuni,thefirstbuddhaandfounderofthereligion,attainedenlightenmenton12/8.sutraswerechantedinthetemplesandriceporridgewithbeans,nutsanddriedfruitwaspreparedforthebuddha.withtimethecustomextended,especiallyinruralareaswherepeasantswouldprayforaplentifulharvestinthisway.
thereis,however,anothertouchingstory.whensakyamuniwasonhiswayintothehighmountainsinhisquestforunderstandingandenlightenment,hegrewtiredandhungry.exhaustedfromdaysofwalking,hepassedintounconsciousnessbyariverinindia.ashepherdessfoundhimthereandfedhimherlunch.