This year's Laba Festival falls on Jan. 11. The Laba Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the eighth day of the 12th month of the lunar Chinese calendar.

In China, the two most important traditions associated with Laba Festival are eating Laba Congee as well as praying for peace and good health in the coming year. Laba Congee contains glutinous rice, red beans, millet, Chinese sorghum, dried lotus seeds, dried dates, chestnut meat, walnut meat, almonds, and peanuts.