Shichi-Go-San

November 15th is Shichi-Go-San (Seven-Five-Three) in Japan. It is a ceremony for 5 year old boys and 3 and 7 year old girls to celebrate their growth. It is a day of prayer for the healthy growth of young children and to pray for their future. Why the ages Seven-Five-Three? These ages are odd numbers and are considered lucky in East Asian numerology. Shichi-Go-San is not a national holiday and is usually celebrated on the nearest weekend to the actual date.

It is tradition on Shichi-Go-San for children to dress up in traditional Japanese clothing such as a kimino and hakama and visit a shrine to celebrate and be blessed. It is usually the first time for many to wear such traditional clothing and is a popular time for formal pictures to be taken at a professional photo studio. In more recent times, many children are increasingly wearing Western style clothing such as dresses and suits. 

The celebration is said to have started during the Heian period (794-1185) when nobles celebrated the growth of their children. The practice became popular among commoners during the Edo period (1603-1868) and evolved to what it is today during the Meiji era (1868-1912).

After the visit to the shrine, parents usually buy special candy for the children called chitose-ame (longevity candy). The character for chitose-ame is 千歳飴 and it literally means thousand year candy. Not that it is a thousand years old, but it symbolizes healthy growth and longevity. The candy is shaped like a stick and comes in a bag decorated with cranes and turtles, which both symbolize long life.

Chitose-ame

Some other popular Japanese festivals include:

• Hina Matsuri (雛祭) Girls Day
• Kodomo no hi - Children's Day