When is Shichi-Go-San 2024
Shichi-Go-San 2024
Friday, November 15, 2024
When is Shichi-Go-San 2025
Shichi-Go-San 2025
Saturday, November 15, 2025
Why we celebrate Shichi-Go-San?
Shichi-Go-San is a traditional festival in Japan. In Japanese, the word means ‘seven-five-three’. The Japanese celebrate children reaching these ages. This is due to the high infant mortality rate in earlier times. It used to be believed that before the age of 7, a child was on the edge between the world of the living and the dead. This is why the Japanese used to celebrate the passing of the critical age. Nowadays, these are important stages in a child’s maturation. The festival is still celebrated to ask the gods for health and long life.
The tradition emerged between 794 and 1185. This period was called peaceful or Heian. It was originally celebrated by noble families, then by samurai and common people. The practice of celebrating has changed slightly over time, but some rituals are still observed today.
What Do People Do?
According to tradition, children are taken to temples on this day. Boys must be 3 or 5 years old. Girls must be 3 or 7 years old. Note that Japan has a kazoedoshi system. Which means age counts pregnancy as another year of a person’s life. In Western countries, the holiday would be celebrated at the ages of 2, 4 and 6.
Previously, it was customary for children to shave their heads before the age of 3. Boys at the age of 5 wore traditional trousers called hakama for the first time. Girls at the age of 7 were first dressed in a beautiful belt called an obi. Nowadays, some people do not follow the traditions so strictly. They may differ from region to region in Japan. But parents especially prepare their children for this day. They dress their children in fancy clothes, and the girls do their hair and makeup. Many shops offer holiday paraphernalia for rent. Children are given sweets and Chitose ame sweets. Their wrappers bear symbols of health, longevity and wisdom.
How to Celebrate Shichi-Go-San?
Every year on 15 November, Japan celebrates Shichi-Go-San. On the island of Hokkaido, the holiday is celebrated a month earlier. Since it is a special day for children, people started taking pictures as a memento. In this regard, the Children’s Photo Day has started to be celebrated on this day. Besides the happy 3, 5 and 7 years of life, the Japanese also have unhappy ones. They are called yakudoshi, for example, for men the unhappy age is 25 and for women 19. You can dedicate the day to learning new information about an interesting way of life in Japan. Celebrate the age of your children and loved ones, because every year of life is beautiful.
Shichi-Go-San Observances
List of dates for other years
| Weekday | Date | Year | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 15 November | 2021 | Shichi-Go-San |
| Tuesday | 15 November | 2022 | Shichi-Go-San |
| Wednesday | 15 November | 2023 | Shichi-Go-San |
| Friday | 15 November | 2024 | Shichi-Go-San |
| Saturday | 15 November | 2025 | Shichi-Go-San |
| Sunday | 15 November | 2026 | Shichi-Go-San |
| Monday | 15 November | 2027 | Shichi-Go-San |
| Wednesday | 15 November | 2028 | Shichi-Go-San |
| Thursday | 15 November | 2029 | Shichi-Go-San |
| Friday | 15 November | 2030 | Shichi-Go-San |
| Saturday | 15 November | 2031 | Shichi-Go-San |
| Monday | 15 November | 2032 | Shichi-Go-San |
| Tuesday | 15 November | 2033 | Shichi-Go-San |
| Wednesday | 15 November | 2034 | Shichi-Go-San |
Shichi-Go-San Video
Shichi-Go-San Cards
List of Common Holidays in 2024
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| Jan 1 - Tues | New Year's Day 2024 | National holiday |
| Jan 6 - Sun | Epiphany 2024 | Christian |
| Jan 7 - Mon | Orthodox Christmas Day 2024 | Orthodox Christian |
| Jan 14 - Mon | Orthodox New Year 2024 | Orthodox Christian |
| Jan 15 - Tues | Makar Sankranti 2024 | Hindu |
| Jan 21 - Mon | Tu B'Shevat 2024 | Jewish |
| Jan 21 - Mon | Martin Luther King Day 2024 | National holiday |
| February 2024 | ||
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| Feb 2 - Sat | Groundhog Day 2024 | Observance |
| Feb 5 - Tues | Chinese New Year 2024 | Observance |
| Feb 12 - Tues | Lincoln's Birthday 2024 | Observance |
| Feb 14 - Thurs | Valentine's Day 2024 | Observance |
| Feb 18 - Mon | Presidents' Day - Washington's Birthday 2024 | National holiday |
| March 2024 | ||
| Mar 1 - Fri | Read Across America Day 2024 | Observance |
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| Mar 5 - Tues | Mardi Gras 2024 | Christian |
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| Mar 6 - Wed | Ash Wednesday 2024 | Christian |
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| Mar 20 - Wed | Spring/Fall - March equinox 2024 | Season |
| Mar 21 - Thur | Purim 2024 | Jewish |
| Mar 21 - Thurs | Holi 2024 | Hindu |
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| Apr 13 - Sat | Thomas Jefferson Birthday 2024 | Observance |
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| Apr 19 - Fri | Good Friday 2024 | Christian |
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| Apr 26 - Fri | Orthodox Good Friday 2024 | Orthodox Christian |
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| Apr 27 - Sat | Passover - Final Day 2024 | Jewish |
| Apr 28 - Sun | Orthodox Easter 2024 | Orthodox Christian |
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| May 1 - Wed | May Day 2024 | Observance |
| May 2 - Thur | Yom Hashoah 2024 | Jewish |
| May 2 - Thurs | National Day of Prayer 2024 | Observance |
| May 5 - Sun | Cinco de Mayo 2024 | Observance |
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| May 12 - Sun | Mothers' Day 2024 | Observance |
| May 15 - Wed | Peace Officers Memorial Day 2024 | Observance |
| May 18 - Sat | Armed Forces Day 2024 | Observance |
| May 22 - Wed | National Maritime Day 2024 | Observance |
| May 23 - Thurs | Lag BaOmer 2024 | Jewish |
| May 27 - Mon | Memorial Day 2024 | National holiday |
| May 30 - Thurs | Ascension Day 2024 | Christian |
| Jun 1 - Sat | Laylat al Qadr 2024 | Muslim |
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| Jul 4 - Thurs | 4th of July - Independence Day 2024 | National holiday |
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| Sept 30 - Mon | Rosh Hashana 2024 | Jewish |
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| Nov 28 - Thurs | Thanksgiving Day 2024 | National holiday |
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