7th night (Oshichiya)
Welcome new family! We celebrate baby's birth on the 7th night. The family
eat dinner around the new baby, and we have the naming ceremony. Somebody
draw the baby's name with calligraphy, and hangs in a special place. MostJapanese
houses, particularly, older houses, have a 'Kamidana' which is a 'God shelf'
we hang the baby's name here.
1 month (Omiyamairi)
We usually visit our own shrine in neighbor. As you know, many Japanese
have their own shrine 'Shinto' . When we go to the shrine, the baby is
covered with beautiful small 'Kimono' which is traditional cloth for baby.The
grandmother who is mother of baby's father, carries the baby. We wish for
the baby's to grow up healthy. You can not imagine how beautiful this looks!
100 days (Okuizome)
We celebrate and welcome the baby's healthy 100 days. At the about 100th
day, we prepare the special menu for the baby. It is whole sea bream, beans
red rice and so on. These are sign of good luck. We wish that the baby
could be satisfied with their food all her life.
5th May The first boy's festival (Tanngo no Sekku)
3rd March The first girl's festival (Momo no Sekku)
Traditionally, the parent's of the baby's mother have gifted 'Kabuto'
or 'Musha doll' or
'Koinobori' for the baby boy's, 'Hina doll' for baby girl's at the first
'Sekku'.Usually they gift 3 kinds of presents for boys, but sometimes gift
at least one of them.Any way, usually, the parent of the baby's mother
gift these traditional goods..
'Sekku' is the time to change the season in a year. In a past, our ancestors
became sick when the seasons changed. It was really trouble for our Japanese
ancestors. 'Sekku' is special day about taking care of ourselves. We took
some medical plants and did special ceremony in that day. We wish for a
that healthy and happy life.
We had 5 times 'Sekku' in year.There are end of new year, the end of winter, the end of spring, the end of autumn, the end of winter. But especially 'Momono Sekku' and 'Tango no Sekku' have become special day for children. Even now theses days, 5th May is a national holiday as a day of children in Japan!
Let me tell you about some special gift for the children.
First, at the 'Tango no Sekku,' 'Kabuto' ,'Musha Doll' and 'Koinobori'
are gifted by the parents of the baby's mother. As you know 'Kabuto' used
to be the helmet of soldiers for the domestic war in Japan historically.
However, 'Kabuto' is now a symbol of protection of life. Same as 'Musha
doll' is made with strong and famous model soldiers. With wish that baby
boy's would grow into sturdy young men, those are displayed. And, same
day, 'Koinobori' which is a carp-sharped streamer is flown in the sky.
Do you know why? Because the carps are regarded as a symbol of the success
in life.
Additionally, we usually take a special bath with 'Shoubu' which is a medical
plant for the stomach, which is believed to be a charm against evil. We
eat 'Kashiwa mochi' or 'Chimaki' which are signs of good luck.
On the other hand, at the 'Momo no Sekku,' 'Hina doll' is displayed at home, and offered the peach flowers. We drink 'Amazake' which is sweet white alcohol, and also eat 'Hina arare' which is fried dry rice with sugar. The grand mother, mother and other girls in the family sing special songs and wish the baby girl 's happy life.
It depends on the region. My home town is like that!
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