Seven-Five-Three

Shichi-Go-San (Seven-Five-Three)

Right around this time of year there is an amazing ritual carried out throughout Japan.

You can see the Japanese parents taking their children dressed in colourful kimono, or in dapper suits and fine dresses, going off to the Shrine to offer thanks to the Japanese Gods and Goddesses.

There are often wonderful photo-shoots at the profession photograph studios and these delightful and precious moments being captured in cherished family pictures, destine to delight the Japanese families as they gather on special occasions over the years and decades.

The boys usually celebrate Shichi-Go-San at the age of 5, and the girls either at 3 or 7 years of age.

Therefore, until the age 7, Japanese children were thought to be offspring of the Japanese Gods.

The meaning of this important event is to celebrate the survival of their children, because as we all know historically understand, the mortality rate for young children in most parts of the world was very high. They pray to the Shinto Gods for the continuing healthy growth of their children in the coming years of youth into adulthood.

Don’t you think that it is delightful that the hard working Japanese take the time and effort of create these once-in-a-lifetime experiences to honour their ancestors and the Japanese heritage?

(I wrote a blog post about the “once-in-a-lifetime experience and you can read to here if you care to do so)

PS: This ancient ritual originated in the Heian period; 794 to 1185 (Read about the Heian era here).