First festival

The Hatsu-Sekku celebration refers to the first seasonal festival that occurs once in a lifetime.
This is a traditional event and ceremony, just like "Omiyamairi" (a shrine visit) and "Okuizome" (first meal). The family gathers around a celebratory meal to express gratitude for the baby's birth and their hopes for its healthy growth.

As the name "seasonal festivals" suggests, they are a time when seasonal changes occur, and it has been said since ancient times that various epidemics and disasters occur along with the change of seasons. Even today, people are prone to falling ill during seasonal changes, and babies in particular need to be careful.
It is said that during these times, rejoicing and celebrating our children's growth will ward off evil spirits, and for us parents, rejoicing in our children's growth is an opportunity and a good time to start anew the next season of life.

Especially in the early years, the feeling of growing up together with your child is something truly special. It's different from birthdays and Christmas. It's a culture of praying for children's growth and happiness at the turning point of the season. It's a form of celebration unique to Japan.


Many families especially want to celebrate the first seasonal festival properly, since it is the first seasonal festival. Girls born in January or February will celebrate the Girls' Festival soon after they are born. In such cases, the celebratory events will be held one after the other, which can be a burden for the newborn baby and the mother. Unlike other celebratory events, the seasonal festival is characterized by the fact that there is no guideline for how many days after birth it should be celebrated. It is a good idea to consider when to hold the "First Seasonal Festival" based on whether or not the baby's first ritual, the "Omiya-mairi," has already been completed.
If the first seasonal festival comes before the shrine visit, many children will celebrate their first seasonal festival after they turn one year old.
Celebrating the first festival at a year that suits your family will make it an irreplaceable memory and a wonderful celebration that deepens the bonds between family members.

Also, depending on the region, cultures and ways of celebrating vary, such as celebrating according to the lunar calendar, and while there are regions where old customs are respected, modern customs have changed and traditional events that respect the physical condition and feelings of family members have become mainstream. It is a good idea to discuss this with your family.