1.
seven herbs of spring
A set of seven edible wild plants traditionally eaten in rice porridge on January 7th (七草の節句) to pray for good health in the new year. The seven herbs are: せり (water dropwort), なずな (shepherd's purse), ごぎょう (cudweed), はこべら (chickweed), ほとけのざ (henbit), すずな (turnip), and すずしろ (daikon radish).
一月七日に七草がゆを食べる。
We eat seven-herb rice porridge on January 7th.
スーパーで七草セットを買ってきた。
I bought a seven-herb set at the supermarket.
正月の食べすぎで疲れた胃を休めるために、七草がゆを作った。
I made seven-herb porridge to rest my stomach after overeating during New Year's.
七草 usually refers specifically to the 春の七草 (seven herbs of spring), eaten on January 7th. There is also 秋の七草 (seven flowers of autumn), but this is for viewing, not eating.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 七草がゆ / 七草粥 (seven-herb rice porridge)
- 春の七草 (seven herbs of spring)
- 秋の七草 (seven flowers of autumn)
- 七草の節句 (the seven-herb festival, January 7th)
CULTURAL NOTES:
- The custom of eating 七草がゆ on January 7th dates back to the Heian period
- It serves both as a prayer for health and as a way to give the stomach a rest after rich New Year's food
- Supermarkets sell pre-packaged 七草 sets in early January