Shichi-Go-San
(Seven-Five-Three observance)
七五三
November 15

©Konomiya Shrine

Shichigosan is a traditional annual event to cerebrate children's growth.
Boys of three and five years of age and girls of three and seven are dressed up and
visit local shrines with their parents or family members to pray that
gods protect them as they grow up healthy.




Children have paper bags with pictures of a crane and a tortoise on them.
Long candy sticks called chitose-ame are inside.
They are presents from their parents from their hearts to wish the children a long and healthly life.
Chitose 千歳 means a thousand year and ame 飴 means candy.

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