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七草粥 (ななくさがゆ, nanakusagayu) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
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There is a custom of eating seven-herb rice porridge on January 7th.
Seven-herb rice porridge is said to be good for resting the stomach tired from osechi dishes.
Related words おかゆ Generic rice porridge; 七草粥 is a specific seasonal variety with seven herbs.
七なな 草くさ The seven spring herbs themselves, not the porridge.
Written forms 七なな 草くさ 粥がゆ
七なな 草くさ がゆ
Common variant with がゆ in kana.
七なな 種くさ 粥がゆ
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 七種 can also be read ななしゅ.
Etymology From 七草 (seven herbs) + 粥 (rice porridge). The custom originates from the ancient Chinese practice of eating a seven-herb soup on Jinjitsu (the 7th day of the new year) to ward off evil and promote health, later adapted in Japan as a rice porridge.
