What are the origins and customs of Laba Festival?

The origin of Laba Festival The most important festival in the twelfth lunar month is the eighth day of December, which was called Laba Festival in ancient times and commonly known as Laba Festival. Since the pre-Qin period, Laba Festival has been used to worship ancestors and gods and pray for good harvest and good luck. In addition to the activities of offering sacrifices to ancestors and worshipping gods, people also have to chase the epidemic on Laba Festival. This activity originated from Nuo in ancient times (the ritual of exorcising ghosts and avoiding epidemics in ancient times). One of the prehistoric medical methods was to exorcise ghosts and treat diseases. As a witchcraft activity, Xinhua and other places in Hunan still retain the custom of beating drums to drive away epidemics in the twelfth lunar month.

It is said that the founder of Buddhism, Sakyamuni, attained enlightenment on the eighth day of December, so Laba is also a Buddhist festival, also known as "Buddhist Enlightenment Festival".