Nanakusa-gayu (07 January)
In Japan, it is a custom to eat Nanakusa-gayu (seven-herb rice gruel) on the 7th day of January so as to be blessed with good health. This tradition was adopted during the Heian period (A.D. 794 - 1185) but its true origin goes back to China. According to the Chinese belief, the first day of the new year is the day of the rooster and thus no roosters were to be slaughtered on this day. This was followed by the day of the dog on the second, pig on the third, goat on the fourth, ox on the fifth, horse on the sixth and mankind on the seventh. To celebrate the birth of man, no prisoner executions or punishments were to be meted out on this day and people ate rice gruel cooked with seven kinds of herbs to pray for good health. For the Japanese Nanakusa-gayu, the seven herbs used are nazuna (shepherd’s purse), hakobera (chickweed), gogyou (cotton weed), seri (Japanese parsley), hotokenoza (cotton sow thistle), suzuna (turnip), and suzushiro (Japanese radish). Each of these herbs is good for the body and it also helps to sooth the digestive system after all that rich food and abundant delicacies from new year parties.