- 11/16/2010
- 02/27/2021
Shichi-go-san, Children’s Celebration in Japan
If you have recently walking around Tokyo, you may have seen little boys and girls (and sometimes their?parents) dressed up in beautiful Kimono.? This is for a celebration for children, Shichi-go-san (筝?篋?筝?), held around November 15th. Shichi-go-san means ‘seven-five-three’.? It is called this way because it is a ceremony for 3 and?5 year old girls, and 3 and 7 year old boys, to celebrate their growth and health.? The ages 3,?5 and?7 are consistent with Japanese numerology, which dictates that odd numbers are lucky. Shichi-go-san is said to have originated in the Heian period (794-1185)?among court nobles,?to celebrate the passage of their children into middle childhood. Over time, this tradition passed to the?Samurai class.? They added some rite to this celebration.? The rites are: Kamioki (蕭?舟) – Children?were allowed to grow their hair from the age of 3 (up until, children?were required by custom to have shaven heads). Hakamagi (茴雁??) – Boys of age?5 could wear?Hakama (茴?, Japanese formal male skirt) for the first time. Obitoki (絽?В) -?Girls of age?7 replaced the simple cords they used to tie their?Kimono with the traditional Obi (sash). By the Meiji period (1868-1915), the practice was adopted amongst commoners as well, and included the […]