Shichi-Go-San
Celebrating children’s growth.
Japanese seasonal tradition
Seven, five, three: the name marks childhood milestones. Around November 15, families celebrate children’s healthy growth and often visit a Shinto shrine together. In many regions, the customary ages are three for boys and girls, five for boys, and seven for girls. Families and regional practices vary. Chitose-ame, long sticks of candy, express wishes for a long life.
Language note: 七 (shichi), 五 (go), and 三 (san) mean seven, five, and three. Today’s related idiom is 目に入れても痛くない (me ni iretemo itakunai): to adore someone beyond words, especially a child or grandchild. Its literal eye-related image is affectionate exaggeration. It is not a ceremonial phrase specific to Shichi-Go-San.
A DJW reflection for the day: pause to notice a child’s growth, from a new word to a new bit of independence.
Practice:
孫がかわいくて、目に入れても痛くない。
Mago ga kawaikute, me ni iretemo itakunai.
I adore my grandchild beyond words.
Sources:
Shogakukan Digital Daijisen via Kotobank: 目の中へ入れても痛くない, including this variant
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