Every year, on November 15, Japan celebrates Shichi-go-san (七五三). As you can see from the characters, Shichi-go-san literally means Seven-five-three. Curious to know what happens on this day? Keep reading!
What is Shichi-go-san?
It is a celebration of children's growth and health and is celebrated by children at the ages of 3, 5 and 7. In the old days, there were many children who passed away when they were young, so there were many kinds of events celebrating children's growth and praying for their well being, Shichi-go-san being one of them.
Significance of the numbers seven, five and three
The reasons why it is these three ages are given below:Three years old: Kamioki-no-gi (髪置の義) Kami (髪) means hair and oki (置) means to keep or put. Both boys and girls celebrate this at age 3. In the olden days, it was customary to cut one's hair to make it stronger. This meant that children under age three were not allowed to grow their hair. From the age of three, children can let their hair grow!
Five years old: Hakama-no-gi (袴着の儀) Only five year old boys celebrate this. When wearing kimono was commonplace, boys would start wearing the hakama and those boys from a samurai family would wear a haori (jacket) over the hakama. This signifies that the boys have started their journey into adulthood.
Chitose-ame
A custom of giving candy started in the Edo period: this was called chitose ame (red and white candy). Chitose written in kanji is 千歳 (1,000 years old), basically the candy is presented as wish for a long life.
You will see children carrying bags of chitose ame in shrine precincts!
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