「七草粥」に「どんど焼き」 January in Kyoto: Traditional Japanese New Year Events

一月の京都
一月七日は七草粥を食べる日です。春の七草（せり　なずな　おぎょう　はこべら　ほとけのざ　すずな　すずしろ）をお粥に入れていただきます。
お正月でごちそうを食べて疲れた胃を休めるためです。
昔の人が決めてくれた合理的な暮らしの決め事は、体の調整にも生活のめりはりにも良いことだらけですね。
一月十五日には、お正月のお飾り（玄関や神さんや仏さんにあげていた）を氏神さんでお焚き上げしてもらう「どんど焼き」をします。その火で焼いたお餅をふるまう神社もありますね。うちでは鏡餅を割ってそれを入れたおぜんざいを作って食べます。無病息災が叶いますように！
January 2025 in Kyoto
January 7th is the day for eating nanakusa-gayu (seven-herb rice porridge). We add the seven spring herbs—seri, nazuna, ogyou, hakobera, hotokenoza, suzuna, and suzushiro—into the porridge.
This is done to give our stomachs a break after enjoying rich New Year’s meals.
The practical lifestyle decisions made by people in the past, like this one, are so beneficial for both physical health and maintaining balance in life.
On January 15th, we participate in 'dondo-yaki' (a fire ritual) at the local shrine, where we burn New Year decorations displayed at the entrance, as well as those offered to the gods or the Buddha. Some shrines even offer rice cakes that were baked in the fire.
In our home, we break the kagami-mochi (New Year’s rice cake) and use it to make Ozenzai (a sweet red bean soup with rice cakes). We hope for good health and happiness throughout the year!"