Shichi-go-san - the Seven-Five-Three Festival
Shichigosan (shee-chee-go-sun), which simply means "seven five three," is a traditional rite of passage to celebrate the growth of children, observed on November 15th. Children visit a Shinto shrine on this day in the years they reach the ages of 3 (boys and girls), 5 (boys only), and 7 (girls only). There, they give thanks for their good health and pray for future blessings. At the shrine, the parents proudly take pictures of their children and buy them sticks of candy called "chitose-ame" (1000 years of age candy). The rite became popular in the 18th century, though it wasn't until the late 19th century that dressing children in elaborate kimonos for the occasion became customary. The latter custom seems to have been promoted as a sales strategy by the kimono industry, and has remained a hallmark of Shichigosan rites ever since. It is not clear why this rite is held on November 15th. One account is that a noted celebration was held on this date when the Shogun Tsunayoshi was a child. Another account is that the 15th of the 11th month was an auspicious day, Kishukunichi, under the old lunar calendar.