| Shichi-Go-San - which literally means
"seven, five, three", is a Japanese children's festival,
held every November 15, every year.
It it thought that children, both boys and
girls, of age three, five
or seven are especially lucky this day,
and they dress up in their finest clothes.
Some follow the old customs and dress up in
the traditional kimonos, while others
use Western style clothing.
The children are also fitted with
a long, narrow paper bag, decorated with
colorful pictures, often of pine trees,
tortoises and cranes, to symbolize
youth and long life.
When everyone is ready, the families go
to a shrine, where they give thanks for
the good health of the children, and
ask for future health and happiness.
Outside the shrine, the parents buy candy
and toys to fill the children's paper bags,
and after returning home, the children
share some of their candy with visiting
friends and relatives. In return, they
are often given gifts. The day usually
ends with a party.
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