Nanakusa MatsuriNanuska 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.
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