| Shichi-Go-San | |
|---|---|
 Japanese boy at a shrine in Tokyo, dressed up for the Shichi-Go-San festival | |
| Official name | 7-5-3 (shichi go san) |
| Observed by | Japan |
| Type | Ethnic traditions/non-religious/religious |
| Significance | Traditional rite of passage and festival day in Japan for three-year-old and seven-year-old girls, as well as five-year-old and sometimes three-year-old boys. |
| Date | November 15 |
Shichi-Go-San (七五三, lit. 'seven-five-three') is a traditional Japanese rite of passage and festival day for three- and seven-year-old girls, five-year-old and sometimes three-year-old boys, held annually on November 15 to celebrate the growth and well-being of young children. As it is not a national holiday, it is generally observed on the nearest weekend.
Shichi-Go-San is said to have originated in the Heian period amongst court nobles who would celebrate the passage of their children into middle childhood, but it is also suggested that the idea was originated from the Muromachi period due to high infant mortality. The ages 3, 5 and 7 are consistent with East Asian numerology, which holds that odd numbers are lucky.[1] The practice was set to the fifteenth of the month during the Kamakura period.[2]
Its meaning is to celebrate the survival of children, as infant and child mortality rates were higher in previous centuries.
Over time, this tradition passed to the samurai class who added a number of rituals.[3]
The first of these ceremonies, for three year-olds, is called Kamioki, meaning "hair-leaving"; traditionally, from the period of seven days after birth until the age of three, a child's head would be kept shaved.
The second of these ceremonies, for five year-old boys, is called Hakamagi-no-Gi. Similar to the Western practice of breeching, this marked the first time a young boy would wear formal attire (a hakama and a haori), associated with roles and responsibilities.
The third ceremony is Obitoki-no-Gi, which is held for seven year-old girls. This ceremony marked the first time a young girl would wear an obi (a broad, stiff sash for a kimono) instead of simply wearing a kimono tied with attached strings or a lightweight, informal and scarf-like sash. Symbolizing the transition into womanhood, this practice began in the Kamakura period; originally, it was practiced for 9 year-old girls as well as boys, but in the Edo period transitioned into being performed for girls aged 7 only.
By the Meiji period, the practice of Shichi-Go-San was adopted amongst commoners as well, and included the modern ritual of visiting a shrine to drive out evil spirits and wish for a long healthy life.
Shichi-Go-San has changed little since the Meiji period. While the ritual regarding hair has been discarded, boys who are aged five and girls who are aged three or seven are still dressed in kimono—many for the first time—for visits to shrines. Three-year-old girls usually wear hifu (a type of padded vest) with their kimono. Western-style formal wear is also worn by some children. A more modern practice is photography, and this day is well known as a day to take pictures of children. It is common to observe the rite based on the traditional way of calculating age, or kazoedoshi, in which children are one year old at birth and gain a year on each New Year's Day. In this case, girls celebrate in the year in which they would reach an age according to the modern calculation of two or six, and boys in the year in which they would reach an age according to the modern calculation of four.
Chitose ame (千歳飴, lit. 'thousand year candy') is given to children on Shichi-Go-San. Chitose ame is long, thin, red and white candy, which symbolizes healthy growth and longevity. It is given with a bag decorated with a crane and a turtle, which represent long life in Japan.[4] Chitose ame is wrapped in a thin, clear, and edible rice paper film that resembles plastic.[5]
