Japan’s Festival of Seven Herbs
by Sandy Mitchell on January 7th, 2008
January 7 is the Festival of Seven Herbs in Japan, or Jinjitsu. The celebration centers around eating a porridge (nanakusa-gayu) made of the seven edible wild herbs of spring. These are:
- Water dropwort (seri)
- Shepherd’s purse (nazuna)
- Cudweek (gogyo)
- Chickweed (hakobera)
- Nipplewort (hotokenoza)
- Turnip Greens (suzuna)
- Daikon (suzushiro)
Consuming these herbs on the seventh day of the year originated in China, but has been a custom in Japan for over 1000 years. It is said to bring long life and health.
For a recipe, click here.
(photo credit: Blue Lotus/cc license)
Share This
POSTED IN: Asian Holidays
