January 26, the eighth day of the last month in the Chinese lunar calendar, saw the Beijing Folk Custom Museum hold its traditional porridge giveaway event for the Laba Festival. The activity attracted numerous residents, who savored warm porridge to usher in the coming Lunar New Year and embrace good fortune. Giving out Laba porridge has been a long-standing custom at the Beijing Folk Custom Museum. The porridge was carefully made from glutinous rice, black rice, Job’s tears, lotus seeds, red beans and red dates, and slow-simmered over a low flame; this year more than 1,000 servings were prepared. Photos: Chen Tao/GT