◎About the Shichi-Go-San celebration

This is a celebration for children who are three, five, and seven years old. For both boys and girls, the kamioki ceremony is held for three-year-olds, which marks the beginning of growing their hair. For five-year-old boys, the hakamagi ceremony is held for the first time, which marks the wearing of hakama. For seven-year-old girls, the obitoki ceremony is held for the untying of the child's sash and wearing the same obi as adults. It is one of the life rites that have been performed to socially acknowledge a child's growth. Visits to shrines have been held since the Edo period, but became even more popular during the Meiji period. It is said that "a child of God until he is seven years old," and it is said that by visiting the local shrine to celebrate a child's seventh birthday, he or she can officially join the ranks of the shrine's members. It seems that from this time on, the great god and the local community recognize the child as a fully-fledged individual. Nationwide, the Shichigosan celebration is held on November 15th, but in Hokkaido, due to the weather, the Shichigosan celebration is held on October 15th, and has spread throughout the prefecture.