today’s holiday: Nanakusa Matsuri (2015)

Nanakusa Matsuri (2015)

Nanuska Matsuri is a Japanese ceremony dating back to the 9th century. It is also called Wakana-setsu (“Festival of Young Herbs”), or Jin-jitsu (“Man Day”), because it occurs on the zodiacal day for “man.” After an offering to the clan deity in the morning, participants partake of nanakusa gayu, a rice gruel seasoned with seven different herbs that is said to have been served for its medicinal value to the young prince of the Emperor Saga. The herbs are shepherd’s-purse, chickweed, parsley, cottonweed, radish, as well as herbs known as hotoke-no-za and aona in Japanese. More… Discuss

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