Tuesday, January 9, 2024
January 7 (Sunday) is the first Sekku of the New Year, "Jinjitsu-no-Sekku" (a festival to take care of people). It is also called "Shichikusa-no-Sekku" because people eat seven herbs to ward off evil spirits and wish for good health throughout the year.
Pick "young greens," a rejuvenating plant in early spring, and eat them hot to purge evil spirits and ward off all illnesses.
seven vernal flowers (Java water dropwort, shepherd's purse, Jersey cudweed, common chickweed, Japanese nipplewort, turnip, and daikon)
The seven spring flowers are Japanese parsley, green leaves, green leaves, green leaves, green leaves, green leaves, green leaves, green leaves, green leaves, green leaves, and green leaves.
Each of the seven herbs was used as a medicinal herb because of its nutritional benefits.
Feast of the Seven Herbs of Health (7th of January)
Seven herbs & Kuro Sengoku Soybeans & Minor grains
This year, in addition to the seven herbs, I made porridge with boiled black sengoku soybeans, 24 minor grains & 3 superfoods (teff, kaniwa, amaranth).
Pray for a year of good health!
We sincerely wish you a healthy and energetic year ahead by preparing and purifying your body with the seven herbs & minor grains of young vegetables with medicinal effects!
Recipes, dishes, serving style, and text by Ikuko Terauchi (Photography and editorial assistance by Noboru Terauchi)
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