Seaweed is an essential part of East Asian cuisines, especially in Japan, Korea, and China. In these countries, it is often used as an offering in religious ceremonies and festivals. For example, in Japan, seaweed may be included in traditional Shinto rituals or as an offering during the Obon festival, a time to honor deceased ancestors.
In some Celtic and Norse traditions, seaweed was used in various rituals and offerings. The Celts believed that seaweed had protective and healing properties and considered it a sacred plant associated with water and the sea.
In some Pacific Island cultures, seaweed and other marine resources have spiritual significance. They are used in rituals to give thanks to the sea and to seek blessings for a successful fishing season or safe ocean voyages.
Some indigenous coastal communities around the world have spiritual connections to the sea and its resources, including seaweed. Seaweed may be used in ceremonies and rituals to express gratitude to the ocean and as a way of maintaining a harmonious relationship with nature.
In modern Wiccan and Neopagan traditions, seaweed may be used symbolically in rituals related to water deities, purification, and connecting with the energies of the sea.