Shichi-Go-San – Traditional Japanese Festival

Shichi-Go-San (七五三 lit. “seven-five-three”) is a Japanese custom celebrated on November 15. On this day, five-year-old boys and three- and seven-year-old girls visit the shrines to pray for health and prosperity in their growth.

In ancient Japan, children were more susceptible to disease and mortality in children was a serious problem. The Shichi-Go-San festival emerged as a way to mark important moments in the development of children, where one of the greatest was reaching the age of seven, when it was considered that a child already had the favor of the gods and he had united society as one more faithful of the local sanctuary or temple.

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It is also said that ages three, five and seven were when purification ceremonies were held for children as odd ages were considered auspicious. Currently this custom is celebrated as a way of thanking children for their health and happiness.

Shichi-Go-San is the combination of three different customs that were celebrated in the Heian period (794-1185) There are important moments or steps in the growth of a child, for example, at the age of three, boys and girls are it allowed them to grow their hair; at five, boys were considered old enough to wear a hakama (trousers with a kimono); and girls celebrated their seventh birthday by wearing their first obi (sash) on their kimono.

Today, families in Japan celebrate this holiday by dressing in a suit or kimono and visiting a shrine or temple, and children receive auspicious gifts. Some families ask for a special ceremony and others present a monetary offering for the good health of their children.

Traditionally, each age has its own special outfit. Three-year-old girls wear a bare-shouldered kimono without an obi with a vest that is called a hifu . Seven-year-old girls wear a kimono and a sash or obi . On the other hand, five-year-old boys wear a hakama and a long haori (jacket-like) with decorative pattern. Since traditional dress is not required, some children go to shrines in conventional suits or dresses.

There is also the custom of giving sweets to children, long sticks called chitose ame (千歳飴 lit. thousand-year candy) which represent the wish for long life. The candies come in pink and white, and are auspicious colors used for celebrations. Children are given the amount of candy that corresponds to their age.

There are many reasons why this day (November 15) was chosen to celebrate this holiday. One is because that’s the kishukunichi (鬼宿日) which literally means “the day the demons stay home”. Supposedly it is a fortuitous day for celebrations other than weddings. Another reason is that according to the traditional lunar calendar, the month of November was when the gods were thanked for the year’s harvest. The 15th day of the month would be a full moon, so people thanked the gods for allowing their children to “mature with age” as well.

And a third reason is that the number 15 is the sum of seven, five and three, a perfect representation of the celebrated ages and that they are also all odd numbers which are considered very auspicious.

And in your country is something similar to this traditional Japanese holiday Shichi-Go-San celebrated? Tell us in the comments!