Japanese Cultural Topic No.98
Shichi-Go-San


Shichi-Go-San (seven-five-three) is a festival day in Japan for three and seven year-old girls and three and five year-old boys, held annually on November 15. They and their parents go visiting a shrine in their formal wear.

History
seven-five-three, those 3 numbers are picked out of 5 single digit odd numbers. In chinese philosophy, odd numbers are thought to be good for celebration.
This seven-five-three style had been adapted to Japan in many ways.
Full course festive meal has main seven dishes plate, second five dishes and third three dishes.
Shimenawa, the rice straw rope can be seen in a shinto shrine with those number of straws dangling from.

Back to the child's event,
Samurai added a number of rituals in Edo era.
Children who succeed to survive until age of three, start growing out their hair from shaven head(Kami-oki).
Boys of age five could wear hakama for the first time(Hakama-gi), while girls of age seven replaced the simple cords they used to tie their kimono with the traditional obi(Obi-toki).
Today's way of celebration began in Meiji era.


Written by Nakamide Ri

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