Tuesday, January 9, 2024
January 7th (Sunday) is the first festival of the new year, "Jinjitsu Festival (a festival to cherish people)." It is also called "Seven Herbs Festival" because people eat the seven herbs to ward off evil spirits and pray for good health for the year.
In early spring, people pick young leaves, a plant known for its rejuvenation, and eat them hot to ward off evil spirits and eliminate all illnesses.
The Seven Herbs of Spring
The seven herbs of spring are: parsley, shepherd's purse, dandelion, gogyo, motherwort, chickweed, boxelder, Buddha's seat, tabirako, sycamore, and turnip.
Each of the seven herbs has high nutritional value and was used as a medicinal herb.
Seven Herbs Festival
Seven herbs & Kurosengoku soybeans & miscellaneous grains
This year, in addition to the seven herbs, I made porridge using boiled Kurosengoku soybeans, 24 kinds of grains, and three superfoods (teff, kaniwa, and amaranth).
Praying for good health and safety throughout the year!
We sincerely hope that you will purify your body with Wakana's seven herbs and grains, which have highly medicinal properties, and that you will be healthy and energetic throughout the coming year!
◇ Recipe, cooking, presentation, and text: Ikuko Terauchi (photography and editing assistance: Noboru Terauchi)
