春はるの七なな草くさ

expression, noun

seven spring herbs; seven vernal flowers

Refers to the seven edible wild plants traditionally eaten in nanakusa-gayu (rice porridge) on January 7th for health and to ward off evil. The specific plants are: seri (Java water dropwort), nazuna (shepherd's purse), gogyō (Jersey cudweed), hakobera (common chickweed), hotokenoza (Japanese nipplewort), suzuna (turnip), and suzushiro (daikon).

See also: 秋の七草

• 正しょう月がつ七なの日かに春はるの七なな草くさを入いれたお粥かゆを食たべる習しゅう慣かんがあります。

  There is a custom of eating rice porridge with the seven spring herbs on January 7th.

• 春はるの七なな草くさは、せり、なずな、ごぎょう、はこべら、ほとけのざ、すずな、すずしろです。

  The seven spring herbs are seri, nazuna, gogyō, hakobera, hotokenoza, suzuna, and suzushiro.