Seven Spring Flowers
The nanakusa are seven edible wild herbs of spring. Traditionally, they are:
| Image | Traditional name | Modern name | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 芹 : せり seri | Seri | Water dropwort | |
| 薺 : なずな nazuna | Nazuna or Penpengusa （ぺんぺん草） | Shepherd's Purse | |
| 御形 : ごぎょう gogyō | Hahakogusa （母子草） | Cudweed | |
| 繁縷 : はこべら hakobera | Hakobe （蘩蔞） | Chickweed | |
| 仏の座 : ほとけのざ hotokenoza | Koonitabirako （小鬼田平子） | Nipplewort | |
| 菘 : すずな suzuna | Kabu （蕪） | Turnip | |
| 蘿蔔 : すずしろ suzushiro | Daikon （大根） | Radish |
There is considerable variation in the precise ingredients, with common local herbs often being substituted.
On the morning of January 7, or the night before, people place the nanakusa, rice scoop, and/or wooden pestle on the cutting board and, facing the good-luck direction, chant "Before the birds of the continent (China) fly to Japan, let's get nanakusa" while cutting the herbs into pieces. The chant may vary.
The seventh of the first month has been an important Japanese festival since ancient times. The custom of eating nanakusa-gayu on this day, to bring longevity and health, developed in Japan from a similar ancient Chinese custom, intended to ward off evil. Since there is little green at that time of the year, the young green herbs bring color to the table and eating them suits the spirit of the New Year.
Read more about this topic: Nanakusa-no-sekku
Famous quotes containing the words spring and/or flowers:
“Fresh curls spring from the baldest brow. There is nothing inorganic.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“When there’s no future
How can there be sin
We’re the flowers in the dustbin
We’re the poison in your human machine
We’re the future
Your future
God Save the Queen”
—The Sex Pistols, British punk band (1976-1979)