"Little one, little one, don't be too eager, for after Laba comes the New Year. Laba porridge, enjoyed for days, leads to crackling sounds on the twenty-third. Stay up all night on New Year’s Eve, and greet the first day of the year with a joyful twirl." The passing of Laba Festival marks the official start of the New Year celebrations! Every household is now hanging sausages, train tickets for home are about to go on sale, and the deep cleaning of homes is steadily progressing—the tangible sense of the New Year is right before our eyes!
This year, many temples in Hangzhou, such as Lingyin Temple, Chenghuang Pavilion, and Chaoshan Qinglian Temple, are offering free Laba porridge to the public. I’ve also thoughtfully prepared Laba porridge for our Hangzhou Water Meter colleagues—has everyone had a taste yet?
Eight ingredients from all directions blend to bring good fortune for the coming year; a bowl of warm porridge carries the tender warmth of the long winter days. Love is found in daily companionship and in weathering storms together, just as we share this porridge. The members of Hangzhou Water Meter have journeyed through yet another cycle of seasons together. As the 2024 Spring Festival approaches, let us welcome the New Year with warmth and sweetness!
