What is Shichigosan? Thorough commentary on the origin and the best time to celebrate on November 15th

I think that many families will start preparing for Shichigosan when their important child is nearly three years old.
At that time, many parents may be wondering, "Is Shichigosan always November 15th?"

In this article, I will explain in detail the definition of Shichigosan, the origin that came to be held on November 15, and the way of thinking when adjusting the schedule of Shichigosan.

What is Shichigosan?

Shichigosan is a traditional event that celebrates the growth of children at the turning points of 3, 5, and 7.

History of Shichigosan

The origin of Shichigosan is said to be a celebration of children aged 3 to 7 years old, which was held between the emperor and the officials who served the imperial court in the middle of the Heian period.

In the past, child mortality was so high that it was necessary to change the meaning of prayer according to age and gender as follows.

3Years: Hairdresser

Hairdressing is an event that was held from the Kamakura period to the Edo period for children to start growing their hair.

At that time, children were raised with shaved heads until they were two years old at the Kuge and three years old at the Samurai family, and they began to grow their hair triggered by the hairdresser. Today, the ritual is celebrating the growth of a 3-year-old girl.

5Years old: Hakama

Hakama is the first ritual to wear a hakama, which was already performed in the Heian period.

The dressing that was carried out by both men and women will be transformed into a ceremony to celebrate the growth of a 5-year-old boy after the Edo period. In the imperial family, dressing ceremonies are still practiced for both men and women today.

7Years old: Unraveling the obi

This is the first ritual to remove the obi from a child's kimono and tighten the obi to make it look the same as an adult.

In the olden days, both men and women were 9 years old. In the latter half of the Edo period, this changed to a ritual performed by a 7-year-old girl.

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The celebration of Shichigosan is November 15th! What is its origin?

Shichigosan has been held on November 15th every year since ancient times.

However, if it is not possible to celebrate on that day, it is generally held on a convenient day from October to December.
There are various theories as to why Shichigosan became November 15th.

Theory about the ceremony to pray for the health of Tsunayoshi Tokugawa's son

Tokugawa, the son of Tsunayoshi Tokugawa, was a very weak child. Therefore, when he prayed for his health on November 15, he was able to grow up safely until he was five years old. From there, it is said that November 15th became the day of Shichigosan.

The theory derived from Onmyodo and demons

There is also a theory that November of the lunar calendar was an auspicious month called "Ichiyo Raifu" on the Onmyodo.

Furthermore, it is said that November 15th is a good day for celebrations other than weddings, as it is the "Ghost Day of the 27th Inn" where demons do not go out.

The theory derived from the harvest festival

On November 15th, the full moon, harvest festivals were held all over the country.

Originally, November was a month to thank God for the fruits of that year. Therefore, on November 15, the full moon, it is said that he began to thank both the harvest and the growth of his children and pray for God's blessing.

Which is the celebration of Shichigosan, counting years or full age?

As children approach the age of three, many parents tend to ask, "When should I do Shichigosan?"The answer is easy to understand by knowing how to count years and full age.

What are counting years and full age?

First of all, the counting year is the idea that the day of birth is one year old, and then every January 1st comes, the age increases.

On the other hand, full age is the method of counting the age used in modern Japan. The day of birth is set to 0, and every time the next birthday comes, we will grow older. For example, when considering November 15th as a standard, there are the following differences between counting years and full age.

• For counting years: 3 years old before birthday, 3 years old after birthday
• For full age: 1 year before birthday, 2 years after birthday

Timing to celebrate Shichigosan in modern times

In modern Japan, it is the mainstream to celebrate Shichigosan at full age.

However, if there are circumstances such as the age of siblings or premature birth, Shichigosan may be implemented at the timing unique to that family. Also, if your parents have a hard time taking a break from work, you can do Shichigosan at the best time for your family.

At the time of Shichigosan, reservations for photo studios and rental costume stores tend to fill up. Therefore, if you want to finish Shichigosan in the fall, it is ideal to start making adjustments and preparations as soon as possible.

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Summary

This time, I explained about Shichigosan, a traditional event that celebrates the growth of children aged 3, 5, and 7.

In the old days when child mortality was high, rituals were held with different meanings and wishes for each age group. Even in modern times, Shichigosan is held on November 15th in many homes. However, if you cannot do this day due to the age difference of your siblings or family circumstances, you may try to find the best time for your family by looking at the reservation status.

This article is a partial re-edit of the article published in Nihongo Biyori by KARUTA.
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