Shichi-go-san
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 Shichi-go-san is a traditional event that is held in celebration of children's growth. Shichi-go-san also refers to November 15th when this event takes place. Shichi, go, and san literally mean seven, five, and three, and these three numbers represent the ages of seven, five, and three. Japanese people have considered shichi (7), go (5), san (3) as lucky numbers since ancient times. They have also regarded these three ages as particularly important stages of children's growth. That is why people have traditionally held the shichi-go-san festival for children aged three, five, and seven.The shichi-go-san festival takes place on November 15th. Boys and girls aged three, boys aged five, and girls aged seven are congratulated. Children of these ages, dressed in their best clothes, make traditional visits to Shinto shrines with their parents. Many little girls dress up in lovely kimonos which are colorfully patterned, and many little boys dress up in new suits. Many years ago children wore kimonos or suits specially made for this auspicious occasion. Recently, however, many children wear rented kimonos or suits. On shichi-go-san day, you can see children and their parents giving thanks for their good health and praying for good fortune at Shinto shrines throughout Japan. You can also see many beautiful children dressed in their best clothes holding paper bags with long sticks of candy and their parents proudly taking photographs of them. The long sticks of candy are called chitose-ame in Japanese. The word chitose means a thousand years, and the word ame means candy. The chitose-ame bear the wish that the children will grow up in good health and live long. The paper bags that contain chitose-ame have pictures of cranes and tortoises on them as they have long lives and therefore are thought to bring good fortune. The proverb says, "A crane lives a thousand years and a tortoise lives ten thousand years." |