Information

2013.01.14

7 Types of Grass in Spring and Japanese Tradition

When the New Year starts in Japan, Japanese people will consider it the beginning of spring. For more than 1,000 years since the He-an era, on the 7th of January of every year, Japanese people will boil rice with 7 types of grass since they are believed to expel illnesses from the body and promote long life. The 7 types of grass are Seri 「セリ」(water dropwort), Nazuna 「ナズナ」(shepherd`s purse), Gogyo「ゴギョウ」 (cudweed), Hakobera「ハコベラ」 (chickweed), Hotokenoza「ホトケノザ」 (nipplewort), Suzuna「スズナ」 (turnip) and Suzushiro「スズシロ」 (radish).

Regarding the tradition of consuming boiled rice with 7 types of grass in Kagoshima, a kid who will turn 7 on such year will put on a kimono and walk out to eat the boiled rice with 7 types of grass at 7 of their relatives’ houses in the neighboring areas. Such action is considered a tip for good health and longevity.