七五三
This is an event to visit shrines to pray for the health and growth of children in their fifth year of age for boys and in their third and seventh years for girls. In recent years, an increasing number of families celebrate the full age of the child instead of counting. In some areas, boys are also celebrated at the age of 3.
*Counting Year ---"counting years" is a way of counting age in which the year of birth is counted as the first year of life, and one year is added to one's age when January 1 arrives.
*Full Age---Nowadays, "full age" is the most common way to age on birthdays. It is easy to understand because one year is added to the age at each birthday. The period between birth and the next birthday is 0 years old, and when the birthday arrives, the person is 1 year old.
"Shichi-Go-San" is said to have originated from three ceremonies that were held at court during the Heian period (794-1185) at different ages. The first is the "kamioki-no-gi" ceremony, in which girls (in the old days, boys also performed this ceremony) who are three years old by the lunar calendar begin to grow their hair, which had been kept short until then. This is followed by the "Hakamagi" ceremony. This is the ceremony that led to the popularization of "Shichi-Go-San" (the Seven-Five-Three Festival). The "Obi-Toki" ceremony is for girls aged 7 years old to remove the sash cord and put on the obi for the first time. In other words, these separate events for each age group are collectively called "Shichi-Go-San," which celebrates the growth of the child.
男の子は数えで 5歳、女の子は 3歳と 7歳の年に、子供の健康と成長を願うため神社に参拝する行事です。近年では、数え年ではなく、満年齢でお祝いを おこなうご家庭も増えています。また、地域によっては、男の子でも 3歳のお祝いを するところがあるようです。
＊「数え年」生まれた年を 1歳、1月1日を迎えると 1 つ歳を とるという年齢の数え方です。
＊「満年齢」今では誕生日で加齢する「満年齢」が主流です。誕生日が訪れるごとに 1歳を加えて数える年齢。生まれてから次の誕生日が来るまでの間を 0歳、誕生日を迎えると 1歳です。
「七五三」は、平安時代に宮中で行われていたそれぞれの年齢で行う3 つの儀式が起源とされています。ひとつ目は、“髪置（かみおき）の儀”で、数え年3歳の女児（昔は、男児も行なっていた）が、それまで短くしていた髪を伸ばし始める儀式。続いて、“袴着（はかまぎ）の儀”。数え年5歳の男児が、正装の袴を初めて着る儀式で、「七五三」が広まる キッカケ となった儀式です。そして、“帯解（おびとき）の儀”は、数え年7歳の女児が付け紐を外して、初めて帯を締める儀式を指します。つまり、それぞれの年齢で行う別々の行事を 、子供の成長を祝う「七五三」と、ひとまとめにして呼んだものなのです。
Why November 15th?
November in the lunar calendar is the month to thank the gods for the harvest of the year, and the 15th day of the lunar calendar falls on the "Twenty-eighth Inn," or "Oni-juku day," which is considered "good luck in everything," which is why the ceremony was held on November 15th.
Recently, many families have started to schedule their festivities from mid-October to late November to avoid the crowds.
There are three major events that are essential for Shichi-Go-San: the visit, the photo shoot, and the dinner.
Some photo shops offer advance photo shooting plans, so there are cases where commemorative photos are taken during the summer, separately from the visit to the shrine. For those who only have their photos taken at the photo shop first and visit the shrine in October or November, they rent the costumes they have taken in advance and go to the shrine on the day of the photo shoot to pray and visit the shrine. The process ends with the return of the costume to the photo shop.
It is quite difficult to take pictures at a photo shop, select pictures, and move to the shrine in one day. For the visit to the shrine, the weather is a concern. Many people take photos in advance because they can only hope for fine weather on the day of the event.
なぜ 11月15日？
旧暦で 11月は、その年の実りを神に感謝する月であり、また、旧暦の 15日は「二十八宿」といい、「何事をするにも吉」とされる鬼宿日に当たっていたことから、11月15日に行われるようになりました。最近では 11月15日にこだわらず、前後でご家族の都合がつく週末にお参り、お食事会を したり、または混雑を避けて 10月中旬〜11月下旬ごろまでで予定するご家庭が増えています。七五三に欠かせない行事は大きく 3 つあり、お参り、写真撮影、会食です。
写真屋の前撮りプラン などもあることから、お参りとは別に、夏ごろに記念撮影を済ませたりする ケース もあります。写真屋さんで先に写真撮影だけして、10月や 11月に入ってから神社へお参りする人の場合衣装は、事前に撮影した衣装を当日借りて神社に行って参拝・御祈祷。写真屋さんに衣装を返却して終了という流れです。
1日で写真屋さんで撮影・写真選び・神社へ移動はかなり大変ですし、写真屋さんでの七五三撮影は、館内なので天気は気になりません。神社への参拝は天気が気になるところ。当日、晴れるの を祈るしかないので写真は前撮りする人が多いようです。
What do you do when you visit the temple?
1. Receiving Prayers
Although it is not required, many families will receive prayers as a polite way to visit the temple. The general prayer process is as follows.
First, the family undergoes purification at the hall of worship.
After the purification, the Shinto priest reads a prayer of thanks to God and prays for the healthy growth of the child.
Next, a "tamagushi", a sakaki branch with a paper stick tied to it, is dedicated.
Finally, everyone bows in unison, and the prayer is over.
When receiving the prayer, a fee called "Hatsuho ryori" or "Tamagushi ryori" is to be paid. The amount varies from shrine to shrine, but 5,000 to 10,000 yen should be considered the standard amount. Prepare a noshi-bukuro (gift bag) with a red-and-white mizuhiki (a bow-tied envelope), and put in new or as clean as possible bills.
2. Praying to the Gods
Before and after the prayer, pay your respects to the god and make a monetary offering. The basic rule at shrines is "Nirei Ni-Beat-Ippou" (two rounds of applause and one round of bow). First, bow deeply twice before the deity. Then, clap your hands twice at chest level and pray with gratitude. Finally, bow deeply once more.
Some shrines have different ways of praying, so check in advance. At temples, the manner is to pray with your hands together and bow without "Nirei Ni-Beat-Ippou".
3. Enjoy ema (votive picture tablet) and omikuji (written oracle).
After praying and visiting the temple, make happy memories by writing ema (votive picture tablet) and drawing omikuji (omikuji). If your child has begun to practice writing, he or she can write a wish on an ema (votive tablet) by himself or herself to commemorate the visit.
If your child is not yet able to write, he or she can try drawing a picture. We hope that everyone in your family will enjoy this special day to the fullest and appreciate this traditional Japanese event.
お参りでは何をする？
ご祈祷を受ける。
必須ではありませんが、丁寧な参拝方法としてご祈祷を受けるご家族が多いでしょう。一般的なご祈祷の流れは以下の通りです。
1.初めに、拝殿でお祓い（おはらい） を受けます。
2. お祓いが終わると神主様が祝詞（のりと） を読まれるので、神様に感謝し、お子さまの健やかな成長を お祈りしましょう。
3.次に「玉串（たまぐし）」と呼ばれる、榊（さかき）の枝に紙垂（しで） を結び付けたものを奉納します。
4.最後に全員で一礼し、ご祈祷は終了です。
ご祈祷を受ける際は「初穂料」「玉串料」と呼ばれるご祈祷料を納めます。金額は神社によって差がありますが、5,000円~1万円を相場と考えるとよいでしょう。水引が紅白で蝶結びののし袋を用意し、新札またはできるだけきれいなお札を入れます。
お参りを する。
ご祈祷の前後に、神様にお参りを してお賽銭を入れましょう。神社では「二礼二拍手一礼」が基本です。まず、神前で 2回深いお辞儀を します。続いて、胸の高さで 2回拍手を し、感謝の気持ちを込めてお祈りしましょう。最後に、もう一度深いお辞儀を します。
神社によっては参拝方法が異なる場合があるため、事前に確認しましょう。
また、お寺では「二礼二拍手一礼」せず、手を合わせてお祈りし、一礼するのが マナー です。
絵馬やおみくじ を楽しもう。
ご祈祷やお参りを終えたら、絵馬を書いたりおみくじ を引いたりして、楽しい思い出を作りましょう。字を書く練習を始めたお子さまであれば、ひとりで絵馬にお願い事を書くとお参りの記念になります。
まだ字が書けない場合は、絵を描いてみるのもよいでしょう。ご家族皆で、日本の伝統行事を思う存分堪能できる特別な日を お過ごしください。
What is a Shichi-Go-San dinner?
Shichi-Go-San does not have a prescribed formality such as "Ichi-sumo-mochi" or "Celebration Tai".
Children are satisfied with "chitoseame" given at photo shops and shrines.
Since the Shichi-Go-San dinner is an occasion to show the parents (grandparents) how the child has grown and to express gratitude, it is a good idea to prepare a course meal that the parents (grandparents) can eat (or would be pleased with).
If the restaurant understands that it is a seasonal Shichi-Go-San dinner, they may offer to take pictures.
七五三の会食ってなにするの？
七五三は、「一升餅」や「祝い鯛」のような形式は定められていません。子どもたちは写真屋さんや神社でもらう「千歳あめ」で満足しています。七五三の会食は両親（祖父母）に子どもの成長の姿を見せるのと、感謝の場という雰囲気が強いので両親（祖父母）が食べられる（喜びそうな）コース料理を考えてあげるといいと思います。季節的にお店側も七五三の会食とわかれば、写真撮影を してくれたりします。
Girl's Kimono
Difference between 3-year-old and 7-year-old girls' kimonos. For girls, the form of kimono for the 3-year-old and 7-year-old celebrations is different.
At the age of 3, the body shape of a toddler is in full bloom, and a kimono for toddlers is worn loosely without constricting the cute belly area. The kimono is usually tied with a heishi belt, and a sleeveless jacket called a hifu is placed over it. In many cases, a kinchaku (purse) is carried in the hands.
At the age of seven, the kimono is made almost the same as that of an adult. The obi is also properly tied like an adult's, and a coreless obi called a shikoki is tied under the obi. A thin box-shaped accessory case called a hakoseko and a fan are inserted in the chest, a handbag is placed in the hand, and pokkuri or zori sandals are worn on the feet.
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, "Shichi-Go-San" is a flexible celebration event, so you can visit the shrine not only at your child's full age, but also at a later age, in case your child is over one year it is acceptable. Also child can wear western style clothes instead of kimono, and you can ask your friends to join you in the service or by asking friends to come to the shrine together. There is no problem in prioritizing the convenience of each family. There is nothing wrong with that. The important thing is to to celebrate your child's growth and pray for his/her safety. and pray for their safety.
女の子の 3歳と 7歳の和装の違い女の子の場合、3歳と 7歳のお祝いでは、着物の形も変わってきます。
３歳では、幼児体型まっさかり、かわいいお腹周りを しめつけることなくゆったりと着られる幼児用着物を着ます。着物は兵児帯で結び、その上に「被布（ひふ）」と呼ばれる袖なしの上着を重ねるのが一般的です。手には巾着を持たせる場合が多いです。
7歳になると、着物も作りは大人とほぼ同じもの を着ます。帯もきちんと大人と同じようにしめ、志古貴（しごき）という芯のない帯を 、帯下に結びます。はこ迫（はこせこ）という薄い箱型の小物入れと扇子を胸元に差し込み、手元には ハンドバック、足元はぽっくりか草履をはきます。
冒頭で述べたように、「七五三」は、融通のきくお祝い行事なので、満年齢でお参りすることはもちろん、年子の場合は 1年ずらして参拝したり、着物ではなく洋装にしたり友達同士、声を掛合って一緒に参拝するなど、ご家庭ごとの都合を優先することに何の問題もありません。大切なのは、お子さんの成長を祝い、厄を払って、安全を祈願することなのです。
