January 7th marks the end of the New Year's holidays, and many people are about to return to work. The relaxed holidays are quickly replaced by a return to a hectic daily routine. Many people are likely feeling tired from the overindulgence of food and drink during the New Year's period. At times like these, consider the traditional Japanese custom of...Seven-herb rice porridgeYou might want to try this. Nanakusa-gayu is a rice porridge containing seven kinds of vegetables, eaten on the morning of January 7th. The meaning behind eating nanakusa-gayu on January 7th is to pray for a year of good health and peace. It gives your tired stomach and intestines a rest, and it's an effective way to get vitamins and minerals, which are often lacking in vegetables during the winter.
Each of the vegetables in nanakusa-gayu (seven-herb rice porridge) has its own medicinal properties, and it contains only foods that are very good for the body. The origin of nanakusa-gayu is said to be that in China, on the "Jinji Festival," people ate a soup containing seven kinds of vegetables to pray for good health and protection from illness, and this custom was introduced to Japan and spread. Jinji (人日) refers to the day when, in ancient China, people used a chicken for divination on the first day, a dog on the second, a sheep on the third, a pig on the fourth, a cow on the fifth, a horse on the sixth, a person on the seventh, and a shell on the eighth. On the seventh day, Jinji, people began eating nanakusa-gayu to ward off evil spirits, and the reason for using seven herbs is said to be that it was believed that by consuming seasonal vegetables, people could receive new energy from nature and gain vitality. In Japan, nanakusa-gayu began to be eaten as a court ceremony from the Heian period, but at that time, it was only eaten by the Emperor and members of the Imperial family. It was during the Edo period that it became popular among the general public. It is said that the custom of eating nanakusa-gayu (seven-herb rice porridge) became widespread after the "Jinjitsu no Sekku" (Human Day Festival) was officially designated as a national holiday during the Edo period. Nowadays, it's convenient, and supermarkets sell nanakusa-gayu sets around this time of year, so the seven herbs are easily available. Let's enjoy nanakusa-gayu, a dish that allows us to appreciate seasonal vegetables, and help ensure that this historical tradition continues!
