粥かゆ杖づえ

noun

gruel stick; wand used in New Year gruel ritual

A stick used when preparing rice gruel for the 15th day of the first lunar month; traditionally believed to cure sterility in women when used to stir the pot or strike the loins. This is a historical folk custom, not a modern everyday object.

• 粥かゆ杖づえは、小こ正しょう月がつの粥かゆをかき混まぜるのに使つかわれたという。

  The kayuzue is said to have been used to stir the rice gruel during the Little New Year festival.

• 昔むかしは、粥かゆ杖づえで女じょ性せいの腰こしを叩たたくと子こ宝だからに恵めぐまれると信しんじられていた。

  In the past, it was believed that striking a woman's loins with a kayuzue would bring fertility.