Every January 7, Japanese people are accustomed to eat Nanakusa-gayu -- a porridge seasoned with seven herbs. These herbs are Hotoke no za (ホトケノザ/ Henbit Deadnettle), Gogyou (ゴギョウ/ Jersey Cudweed), Suzuna (スズナ/ Turnip), Seri (セリ/ Japanese parsley), Suzushiro (スズシロ/ Daikon),Nazuna (ナズナ/ shepherd's-purse), Hakobera (ハコベラ/ Stellaria).
This porridge is believed to give rest to the stomach after days of eating food for the New Year celebration. In some regions, people sing a song while chopping the herbs. The song goes like this:
七草なずな
唐土の鳥と
日本の鳥を
あわせてガチャガチャ
Nanakusa nazuna
Toudo no tori to
Nihon no tori wo
Awasete gaccha gaccha
Seven herbs, Nazuna
A bird from China and
a bird from Japan
mixed them, gacha gaccha
What do you think about this custom?Have you eaten your porridge? :D
