又到腊八粥飘香
Laba is celebrated on the eighth day of the last lunar month，referring to the traditional start of celebrations for the Chinese New Year.“La”in Chinese means the 12th lunar month and “ba”means eight. It goes on January 15ththis year.
中国农历的十二月初八是腊八节，意味着中国传统新年的开始。“腊”在中文中指“农历十二月”，“八”指“8”，“腊八”即中国农历十二月初八。今年腊八节的阳历日期在2008年的1月15日。
Legends about the origin of this festivity abound. One holds that over 3，000 years ago sacrificial rites called “La”were held in the twelfth lunar month when people offered their preys to the gods of heaven and earth. The Chinese characters for prey and the twelfth month were interchangeable then，and ever since “La”has been used to refer to both.
关于腊八节起源的传说有很多。其中一个是这样：3000多年前的中国，人们一般都要在农历十二月举行一种名为“腊”的祭祀仪式，向天神和地神供奉他们的猎物，作为祭祀供品。当时，中国文字中的“猎物”和“十二月”二者是可以通用的，从那以后，“腊”就被用来指代“猎物”和“十二月”。
Sincethe festival was held on the eighth day of the Last month，people later appended the number eight (“ba”in Chinese)，giving us the current Laba.
由于这个节日是在农历最后一个月的第八天，人们后来便在中文中增加了数字“八”，于是便有了现在的“腊八”。
The date of the Laba Festival usually falls in mid-January. The majority Han Chinese have long followed the tradition of eating Laba rice porridge on the Laba Festival. Laba rice porridge was first introduced to China in the Song Dynasty about 900 years ago.
腊八节的阳历日期通常在1月中旬。大多汉人很早就有了在腊八节吃腊八粥的习俗。腊八粥大约在900年前的宋朝传入中国。
Buddhism was well accepted in the areas inhabited by the Han Chinese，who believed that Sakyamuni，the first Buddha and founder of the religion，attained enlightenment on the eighth day of the twelfth month. Sutras were chanted in the temples and rice porridge with rice，beans，nuts and dried fruit was prepared for the Buddha. With the passing of time the custom extended，especially in rural areas where peasants would pray for a plentiful harvest in this way.
在当时汉人居住的区域，佛教已经被广泛接受。汉人普遍认为，佛教的第一个佛及佛教创立者释迦牟尼在腊月初八这天悟道成佛。腊月初八这天，寺庙里的僧侣吟诵佛经，用大米、豆子、坚果、干果等做成的腊八粥被供奉在佛像前。随着时间的流逝，这一传统习俗沿袭下来，特别是在一些农村地区，农民们用这种方式祈求好的庄稼收成。
There is，however，another touching story：When Sakyamuni was on his way to the high mountains in his quest for understanding and enlightenment，he grew tired and hungry. Exhausted from days of walking，he fainted away by a river in India. A shepherdess found him there and fed him her lunch --porridge made with beans and rice.Sakyamuni was thus able to continue his journey.
关于腊八节的传说还有另外一个感人的故事版本：释迦牟尼在寻求修道成佛的路途中，又累又饿。一连几天的长途跋涉，他筋疲力尽，晕倒在印度一条河边。一个牧羊女发现了他，把她的午饭给他吃。那午饭就是用豆子和米做成的粥。释迦牟尼由此得以继续行程。
After six years of strict discipline，he finally realized his dream of full enlightenment on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.Ever since，monks have prepared rice porridge on the eve and held a ceremony the following day，during which they chant sutras and offer porridge to Buddha.Thus，the tradition of eating Laba porridge was based in religion，though with the passing of time the food itself became a popular winter dish especially in cold northern China.
经过6天严格的清规戒律，释迦牟尼终于在农历十二月初八实现了他修道成佛的梦想。从那以后，僧侣们每年腊月初八头天晚上就会准备好腊八粥，第二天举行祭祀仪式，吟诵佛经、给佛像供奉腊八粥。由此可以看出，腊八节吃腊八粥的习俗建立在佛教基础之上。随着时光的流逝，腊八粥已成为中国特别是北方寒冷冬天里的一种家常便饭。
According to written records，large Buddhist temples would offer Laba rice porridge to the poor to show their faith to Buddha. In the Ming Dynasty about 500 years ago，it became such a holy food that emperors would offer it to their officials during festivals. As it gained favor in the feudal upper class，it also quickly became popular throughout the country.
据有文字记载的记录，规模较大的寺庙一般会在腊八节向穷人提供腊八粥，以示他们对佛的忠诚和信任。在大约500年前的中国明朝，腊八粥甚至变成了帝王节日期间招待大臣的“圣餐”。当腊八粥成为封建社会上层阶级的喜好时，很快也就在全国流传开来。