legendsabouttheoriginofthisfestivityabound.oneholdsthatover3,000yearsagosacrificialritescalledlawereheldinthetwelfthlunarmonthwhenpeopleofferedtheirpreystothegodsofheavenandearth.thechinesecharactersforpreyandthetwelfthmonthwereinterchangeablethen,andeversincelahasbeenusedtorefertoboth.
sincethefestivalwasheldontheeighthdayofthelastmonth,peoplelaterappendedthenumbereight(bainchinese),givingusthecurrentlaba.
themajorityhanchinesehavelongfollowedthetraditionofeatinglabariceporridgeonthelabafestival.thedateusuallyfallsinmid-january.