Kindergarteners give Laba porridge to sanitation workers in Zaoqiang county, Hengshui, Hebei province. [Photo by Zhang Buwen/For chinadaily.com.cn]

As the Laba Festival draws near, students at the Sixth Kindergarten in Zaoqiang county, Hengshui, Hebei province, are learning how to make Laba porridge with various grains and Laba garlic.

Laba Festival is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the eighth day of the twelfth month of the Chinese calendar, which falls on Thursday. Eating porridge and garlic is one of the customs of the festival. According to teachers at the school, the children have gained a better understanding of the custom and dietary habits associated with the Laba Festival through classroom activities. Furthermore, the kindergarten teachers organized the kids to present their Laba porridge to elderly people living alone, sanitation workers and bus drivers. "The children are truly considerate. Having a bowl of hot porridge before starting work makes me feel energized all over," said a sanitation worker surnamed Zhao.

Kindergarteners make Laba garlic under the guidance of their teacher in Zaoqiang county, Hengshui, Hebei province. [Photo by Zhang Buwen/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Kindergarteners make Laba garlic under the guidance of their teacher in Zaoqiang county, Hengshui, Hebei province. [Photo by Zhang Buwen/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Kindergarteners prepare grains to make Laba porridge under the guidance of their teacher in Zaoqiang county, Hengshui, Hebei province. [Photo by Zhang Buwen/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Editor: Li Wenpei