Shichi-Go-San is a Japanese celebration for children around the ages of three, five, and seven. Families visit a shrine to give thanks for the child’s growth so far and to pray for continued health and well-being.
Because the celebration takes place at a shrine, some people may wonder whether it is only for Japanese children. It is not. Foreign children can take part in Shichi-Go-San too.
Families may visit a shrine, dress the child in kimono, take photographs, and mark the occasion together. If they want to receive a formal shrine blessing, it is best to check in advance, since reception times, reservations, and the offering fee can differ from one shrine to another.
Shichi-Go-San today has both a religious side and a family-celebration side. Families may pray for the child at a shrine, but they may also have professional photographs taken, dress the child in traditional clothing, or share a meal with grandparents. For some families, the occasion is as much a family celebration as a religious observance.
A foreign child taking part in Shichi-Go-San is unlikely to look out of place. Japan has many foreign residents and internationally mixed families, so a child in formal dress at a shrine will often simply be seen as a family celebrating an important stage in the child’s growth.
The scene is more likely to feel charming than unusual: a child dressed beautifully for an important family occasion.
The ages are also not completely rigid. Traditionally, Shichi-Go-San was based on the old Japanese age-counting system, but many families today use the child’s actual age instead. Customs can also differ somewhat by region and family.
Shichi-Go-San is not a ceremony closed to Japanese people. At its heart, it is a family celebration of a child growing up safely, together with a wish for that growth to continue. That meaning does not depend on the child’s nationality.
References
- Association of Shinto Shrines, “Shichi-Go-San”
- Meiji Jingu, “Prayers and Shichi-Go-San”
- Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine, “Shichi-Go-San Visit”
