七草粥(ななくさがゆ)

ななくさがゆ
noun
seven-herb rice porridge
foodculture
1. seven-herb rice porridge
A simple rice porridge made with seven spring herbs, traditionally eaten on January 7th to pray for good health throughout the year and to rest the stomach after New Year's feasting.
一月(いちがつ)七日(なのか)に七草粥(ななくさがゆ)を食(た)べる。
We eat seven-herb porridge on January 7th.
七草粥(ななくさがゆ)は胃(い)に優(やさ)しい料理(りょうり)だ。
Seven-herb porridge is a dish that's gentle on the stomach.
正月(しょうがつ)の食(た)べ過(す)ぎた後(あと)に七草粥(ななくさがゆ)を食(た)べて体(からだ)を休(やす)める。
After overeating during New Year's, we eat seven-herb porridge to give our bodies a rest.

A traditional Japanese dish eaten on January 7th (人日(じんじつ)の節句(せっく)). The seven herbs (春(はる)の七草(ななくさ)) 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). Supermarkets sell pre-packaged 七草(ななくさ)セット (seven-herb sets) in early January.

Common collocations

Cultural note

The custom has roots in ancient Chinese tradition and was adopted in Japan during the Heian period. The porridge is intentionally bland — it serves as a reset for the digestive system after rich New Year foods (御節料理(おせちりょうり)). It is also associated with prayers for good health (無病息災(むびょうそくさい)).

general
Added 2026.4.7 23:17 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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