Baby's important celebrations
Various celebratory events that have been passed down in Japan since ancient times.
Every event is full of love for the baby, such as ``the hope that the baby will grow up healthy'' and ``the feeling of gratitude that the baby is growing up safely.''
We hope you can enjoy the event with your family and make wonderful memories.
The obi celebration is a ritual in which dogs are said to give birth easily, and people pray for the safe birth of their babies. On Dog Day, the fifth month of pregnancy, women go to a shrine to pray for a safe delivery and wear a belly band called an ``Iwata obi.''
The abdominal girdle not only protects the fetus in the womb, but also protects the fetus from abdominal pain and coldness.
Choose a name on the night of the seventh day after birth and pray for the baby's healthy growth. On this day, it is believed that the baby leaves the blessings of the god of birth, and it is customary to officially name the baby. A naming book with the baby's name written on it is displayed on a household altar or alcove and surrounded by a celebratory meal. Naming books are commercially available or can now be downloaded online.
We pray to the local deity to report the safe birth of our baby, to express our gratitude, and to pray for its healthy growth in the future. It is customary to do this on the 31st day after birth for boys and on the 32nd day for girls, but prioritize days when the weather is good and the baby's physical condition.
It doesn't matter whether the baby wears a celebratory kimono or an informal celebratory dress with a baby dress.
This is an event where children are asked to imitate eating food other than breast milk for the first time. We prepare a celebratory meal with the wish that the child will grow up healthy and without having to worry about food for the rest of his life.
It doesn't necessarily have to be 100 days after birth. Check the weather and plan accordingly. It is customary to ask an elder to imitate feeding a baby.
The first New Year's Day after a baby is born is called ``Hatsushogatsu.''
It's not like we do anything special like the first meal, but the boys decorate their rooms with hama-yumi and the girls with hagoita.
[Damage Bow]
It is said to have the power to ward off evil spirits and drive away invisible spirits. Decorate the demon bow with the wish to grow up brave, strong, and healthy.
[Hagoita]
The black balls of feathers that are poked with a battledore are called "mukuroji". In kanji, it is written as ``Mukyozi,'' which means ``to prevent the child from getting sick.'' It is an important decoration to ward off evil spirits (feathers) and wish for a beautiful and safe growth.
This is the first festival for babies, celebrating their successful growth.
It is an event to pray for healthy growth and warding off evil spirits in the future.
[March 3rd Peach Festival]
Peach Festival is a festival to pray for a girl's healthy growth and happy marriage. Hina dolls are talismans that act as substitutes and ward off misfortune. The best time to decorate is the first day of spring (around February 3rd). Decorate at least a week in advance.
[May 5th Boy's Festival]
Boys' Festival is a festival to pray for boys to ward off evil spirits and grow up healthy. May dolls such as armor and helmets are displayed to encourage people to grow up strong and fine, and carp streamers are decorated with wishes for success in life. It is decorated from the vernal equinox to mid-April.
Wrap one sho worth of round mochi in a furoshiki to ensure that you will never have to worry about food for the rest of your life. The baby carries it on his back and lets him walk to show that it has grown successfully. There is also a ritual called chotori, in which an abacus, brush, money, etc. are placed in front of the baby, and their future is predicted by which one they pick up.
This is an event for girls aged 3 and 7 and boys aged 3 and 5 to visit their guardian deities and shrines to pray for healthy growth. Plan your prayer day one to two months around November 15th, depending on your family's circumstances and schedule.
In the past, unlike today, small children were more likely to die. It is said that Shichi-Go-San originated from the idea that it was important to pray for the growth of children between the ages of 3 and 7, as they were especially susceptible to illness.
