Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr.
Shichi-go-san is a traditional Japanese festival for three-year old, five year old and seven year old children. On November 15th, the children in these age groups are dressed up and taken by their parents to a Shinto shrine.
At the shrine, the priests report the names of the children to the god of the shrine and hold a brief ceremony of purification. Then the children thank the god of the shrine for their growth and pray for a bright future. They have their commemorative pictures taken and buy chitose-ame, or long sticks of candy at the shrine.
Chitose means a thousand years, and the candy bars wish that the children will grow soundly and live a long life.
Shichi-go-san originally included various rites of passage:
Three year old boys and girls were permitted to begin growing their hair long; boys aged five began wearing a hakama, a long pleated skirt like garment; and seven -year-old girls were given an obi, a broad sash, instead of a rope, to tie their kimono.
Moreover, the ages of three, five and seven have come to be celebrated because odd numbers were considered auspicious in Japan. Now a day\’s many Christian churches have also taken up holding these ceremonies also, since many Christians have been converted to Christianity.
Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan
Hank, Keiko Miller & Family
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