臘八節，俗稱“臘八”，是指農曆臘月(十二月)初八這一天。
臘八，是在每年的臘月初八，都説過完臘八節，就快到新年了，每年的臘八節，人們都會準備臘八粥，這個是中國各地的傳統習俗，臘八粥的歷史已經有一千多年了，一直到今天。
話不多少，跟着小編一起來學習關於臘八節的英文知識吧!
臘八節 ︳Laba Festival
Laba Festival：臘八，即農曆十二月初八，古人有祭祀祖先和神靈、祈求豐收吉祥的傳統，一些地區有喝臘八粥的習俗。相傳這一天還是佛祖釋迦牟尼成道之日，稱為“法寶節”，是佛教盛大的節日之一。
the 8th day of the last month of the Chinese lunar calendar：陰曆臘月初八
hand out the free porridge：施粥
swarm in：指人們蜂擁而入
Laba is celebrated on the eighth day of the last lunar month, referring to the traditional start of celebrations for the Chinese New Year.
臘八是農曆十二月的第八天，是歡慶春節的開始。
La (臘) in Chinese means
the 12th lunar month and ba means eight.
漢語裏，“臘”的意思是第十二個月，“八”的意思是八。
Legends about the origin of this festival . One holds that over 3,000 years ago sacrificial rites called La (臘) were held in the twelfth lunar monthwhen people offered up their preys to the gods of heaven and earth
.
關於這個節日的起源有很多種説法。有一種説法是大約3020xx年前，一種祭祀儀式叫做“臘”，會在農曆十二月舉行。人們向天上和地下的神獻出他們的獵物。
The Chinese characters for prey (獵) and the twelfth month (臘La) were interchangeable then, and ever since La has been used to refer to both. Since the 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.
那時候，表示獵物的漢字“獵”和表示農曆十二月的“臘”是可以通用的。從那時候起，“臘”就用來指這兩種意思了。因為這個節日是在最後一個月的第八天舉行的，後來人們就加上了“八”，於是就有了現在的臘八。
臘八粥的由來
The eight-treasure porridge was first introduced to China in Song Dynasty about 900 years ago.
八寶粥最開始出現是在920xx年前的宋朝。
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 enlighten menton the eighth day of the twelfth month. Sutras were chanted in the temples andrice porridge with beans, nuts and dried fruit was prepared for the Buddha.
那時候佛教已經被信奉佛祖釋迦牟尼的漢族人廣泛接受。傳説佛祖在十二月初八受到教化。人們會為佛祖準備好有豆子、堅果和乾果的大米粥，寺廟裏也會唱起佛經。
With the passing of time the custom extended, especially in rural areas where peasants would pray for a plentiful harvest in this way.
隨着時間的推移，這種習俗就傳播出去了，尤其在農村，會用會用花生煮粥祈禱一年的好收成。
臘八節都吃些什麼?
臘月民俗首先從喝臘八粥開始，然後人們要掃房、請香、祭灶、寫春聯、辦年貨，直到除夕夜。
laba porridge
臘八粥食材
Rice 大米
Millet 小米;
Glutinous Rice 糯米;
Red Beans 紅豆;
Mung bean 綠豆
Peanuts 花生;
Dried Lotus Seeds 蓮子
Jujube 大棗
Walnut 核桃
Raisin 葡萄乾
Laba noodle
臘八面
Laba garlic
臘八蒜
Laba bean curd
臘八豆腐
Laba vinegar
臘八醋