Chinese people tend to start their preparations for Spring Festival more than 20 days before it starts. The 12th lunar month in Chinese is called La Yue, so the eighth day of this lunar month is La Yue Chu Ba, or Laba. The day, falling on Jan 7 this year, is also known as Laba Festival.

Kindergartens across Shandong province celebrated Laba Festival with various activities. Children learned about culture through hands-on activities like making Laba garlic, identifying the ingredients of Laba rice porridge, and creating ink paintings.

Laba rice porridge is a traditional Chinese dish eaten on Laba Festival, which symbolizes unity and abundance. It's made with a variety of ingredients, such as rice, beans, peanuts, dried fruit, and lotus seeds.

Children in Binzhou, Shandong province, are being taught how to recognize the different ingredients in Laba rice porridge. [Photo/IC]

Kids in Qingzhou, Weifang, Shandong province, display their artistic talents by creating ink plum blossom paintings. [Photo/IC]

Kids in Fushan district, Yantai, Shandong province, make traditional Laba garlic at school for Laba Festival. [Photo/IC]