According to the Chinese Lunar calendar, the eighth day of the 12th lunar month is the Laba Festival. It is also known as the Laba Porridge festival since people celebrate it by eating porridge containing eight kinds of mixed grains and beans. On Jan. 24, Buddhist temples across China gave out free Laba porridge. /VCG photo

Originally, the day was to give thanks for the harvest and the sacrifice of ancestors. The major three customs on this day are worshiping ancestors, making Laba garlic – a vinegar-preserved garlic – and eating porridge. /VCG photo

According to the Chinese folklore, Laba porridge can exorcize evil from children and help people remember their past. /VCG photo