Children's Festival (Citi-go-san)
Description:
On November 15, all over Japan, the ancient Japanese holiday of Siti-go-san, which means “seven-five-three”, is celebrated. This holiday, whose history dates back more than 300 years, is like a common birthday of all children who this year turned 3, 5 or 7 years old. These odd numbers were considered magical in Japan, and the corresponding ages reflected important, turning stages of growing up.
The festival of city-go-san is accompanied by many traditional rituals and traditions. For example, in the old days, for boys and girls who have reached the age of three, the kamioka ritual - "hair saving" - was considered very important. In ancient Japan, in early childhood, children were shaved naked so that they would grow long, beautiful hair, always rightly considered the pride of the Japanese. By the day of kamioka, the boys’ hair was grown so that it could be tied on the back of the head, and the girls were tied bundles of hair on the sides.
On the day of the kamioki ceremony, the most respected elderly person in the community traditionally gave children bundles of white silk, symbolizing the gray hair that the child wanted to live. Also in the Middle Ages in aristocratic families, boys at the age of three were first worn hakama (traditional men's clothing in the form of wide trousers with folds). Later, this rite began to be held at the age of five, it was at this age that samurai introduced children to their feudal lords, introducing them to the circle of adults. For girls, the age of seven is more important, since on this day they first wear an “adult” belt for the kimono – obi. This ritual, called obi-toki ("change of the belt"), symbolizes growing up, because on this day a girl dresses as an adult woman for the first time in her life. Little girls dressed in adult kimonos look extremely beautiful and touching.
In general, the age of seven years in Japan is considered the most important stage of growing up a small person - before people in Japan believed that with the birth of a child in the house of the heavenly being, or his messenger, and that up to seven years a child is not a simple person, but a divine creature. This belief explains the too indulgent, at first glance, attitude that Japanese parents show towards their young children, unconditionally indulging in any of their pranks and whims. Few children are as spoiled as in Japan. However, when the child reaches the “critical” age of seven, the attitude towards him changes, since from this time he is believed to turn into an ordinary person, and a period of demanding and harsh upbringing comes to replace the cloudless years of happy and serene youth. But on the Sitchi-go-san holiday, children are little emperors.
Parents have always taken care to make this holiday memorable and bright in the life of the child. The main ceremonial custom of the holiday is the mia-mairi ceremony, visiting the temple: parents bring festively dressed boys of three and five years and girls of three and seven years to the Shinto temple to thank the gods for the fact that the children grew up healthy and happy. If you look at this day in the nearest temple near the house, you will see a charming spectacle that fills the heart with joy and affection: cute Japanese kids dressed in bright national costumes, solemnly and solemnly walking by the handle with moved and proud parents.
The festival of city-go-san is accompanied by many traditional rituals and traditions. For example, in the old days, for boys and girls who have reached the age of three, the kamioka ritual - "hair saving" - was considered very important. In ancient Japan, in early childhood, children were shaved naked so that they would grow long, beautiful hair, always rightly considered the pride of the Japanese. By the day of kamioka, the boys’ hair was grown so that it could be tied on the back of the head, and the girls were tied bundles of hair on the sides.
On the day of the kamioki ceremony, the most respected elderly person in the community traditionally gave children bundles of white silk, symbolizing the gray hair that the child wanted to live. Also in the Middle Ages in aristocratic families, boys at the age of three were first worn hakama (traditional men's clothing in the form of wide trousers with folds). Later, this rite began to be held at the age of five, it was at this age that samurai introduced children to their feudal lords, introducing them to the circle of adults. For girls, the age of seven is more important, since on this day they first wear an “adult” belt for the kimono – obi. This ritual, called obi-toki ("change of the belt"), symbolizes growing up, because on this day a girl dresses as an adult woman for the first time in her life. Little girls dressed in adult kimonos look extremely beautiful and touching.
In general, the age of seven years in Japan is considered the most important stage of growing up a small person - before people in Japan believed that with the birth of a child in the house of the heavenly being, or his messenger, and that up to seven years a child is not a simple person, but a divine creature. This belief explains the too indulgent, at first glance, attitude that Japanese parents show towards their young children, unconditionally indulging in any of their pranks and whims. Few children are as spoiled as in Japan. However, when the child reaches the “critical” age of seven, the attitude towards him changes, since from this time he is believed to turn into an ordinary person, and a period of demanding and harsh upbringing comes to replace the cloudless years of happy and serene youth. But on the Sitchi-go-san holiday, children are little emperors.
Parents have always taken care to make this holiday memorable and bright in the life of the child. The main ceremonial custom of the holiday is the mia-mairi ceremony, visiting the temple: parents bring festively dressed boys of three and five years and girls of three and seven years to the Shinto temple to thank the gods for the fact that the children grew up healthy and happy. If you look at this day in the nearest temple near the house, you will see a charming spectacle that fills the heart with joy and affection: cute Japanese kids dressed in bright national costumes, solemnly and solemnly walking by the handle with moved and proud parents.