Laba Festival celebrated across China

A boy eats Laba snack at Yongxingfang in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 20, 2020. The Laba Festival, literally the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

Staff members of Yongxingfang community eat Laba porridge in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 20, 2020. The Laba Festival, literally the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

A volunteer prepares free Laba porridge for the elderly at Zhashuwu Village in Huzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 19, 2021. The Laba Festival, literally the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

Photo shows ingredients for making Laba Porridge at Zhashuwu Village in Huzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 19, 2021. The Laba Festival, literally the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

Volunteers serve free Laba porridge to an elderly man at Zhashuwu Village in Huzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 19, 2021. The Laba Festival, literally the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)