Shichi-go-san (Japan)
Shichi-go-san is a traditional Japanese holiday celebrated on November 15 each year, marking important rites of passage for children aged three, five, and seven. The name "Shichi-go-san" translates to "seven, five, and three," referring to the ages of the children celebrated. For girls, age seven signifies the first time they can wear an obi, the formal sash for kimonos, while boys at age five don hakama pants for public appearances. At age three, children of both genders are allowed to grow their hair instead of having it shaved, which is customary in infancy.
Modern celebrations often include dressing in traditional attire, though some families may opt for Western-style formal wear. Children receive special gifts, notably chitose-ame, which are long-life candies adorned with images of turtles and cranes—symbols of longevity. This holiday has roots extending back to the Heian period in the eighth century and has evolved over the centuries, becoming widely observed even though it is not a national holiday. Families typically celebrate on the weekend surrounding November 15 if the date falls on a weekday, reflecting a blend of historical practices and contemporary family traditions.
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Shichi-go-san (Japan)
Shichi-go-san (Japan)
November 15 of every year is the holiday of Shichi-go-san in the East Asian island nation of Japan. Roughly translated, Shichi-go-san means “seven, five, and three.” According to traditional Japanese culture, the ages of seven, five, and three involves certain rites of passage for young children. At the age of seven, young girls were historically allowed to wear their first obis, the formal sashes for kimonos, instead of simple rope cords. At the age of five, young boys were allowed to wear their hakama pants for the first time in public. At the age of three, both young boys and girls were allowed to let their hair grow, instead of having it shaved off as was customary from infancy.
In modern practice, Shichi-go-san remains a celebration of young children, particularly girls age three or seven and boys age five (and sometimes three). Often the traditional method of calculating age is followed, in which a person is considered one year old at birth. Traditional rituals of dress are still observed by many families, though Western-style formal wear may also be used. The children receive various gifts on this day, including chitose-ame, stick candies that are supposed to represent longevity and often carry images of turtles and cranes symbolizing long life.
The roots of Shichi-go-san are believed to date back as far a the eighth century, when Japanese aristocrats of the Heian period began to celebrate this event on what was considered a propitious day in the period of the traditional calendar that corresponds to the month of November. Most of the Japanese population continued the tradition in the centuries that followed, and during the nineteenth-century period of Westernization the celebration was fixed at November 15 of the newly adopted Gregorian calendar. Although Shichi-go-san is not a national holiday in Japan, it is widely observed and typically celebrated on the weekend before or after November 15, if that day falls on a weekday.
Bibliography
Plewes, Stephanie. "Shichi-Go-San." Japan Visitor, www.japanvisitor.com/japanese-festivals/shichi-go-san. Accessed 1 May. 2020.
"Shichi-Go-San." Japan: Places, Images, Times & Transformations, University of Pittsburgh, www.japanpitt.pitt.edu/glossary/shichi-go-san. Accessed 1 May. 2020.
"Shichi-go-san." Kids Web Japan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/calendar/november/shichigosan.html. Accessed 1 May. 2020.
"Shichi-Go-San." Nippon.com, 9 Nov. 2015, www.nippon.com/en/features/jg00043/shichi-go-san.html. Accessed 1 May. 2020.
Wallin, Lisa. "The Story Behind the Japanese Custom of Shichi-Go-San (Seven-Five-Three)." Tokyo Weekender, 27 Oct. 2017, www.tokyoweekender.com/2017/10/the-story-behind-the-japanese-custom-of-shichi-go-san-seven-five-three/. Accessed 1 May. 2020.