Shichi-Go-San is a traditional rite of passage and festival day in Far east.
For three and seven year-old girls and three and five year-old boys, held annually on November 15.
Shichi - Go - San is said to have originated in the Heian Period (794-1185) amongst court nobles, who would celebrate the passage of their children into middle childhood.
The children wear the kimono which was various colors.
Chitose Ame, literally " thousand year candy ", is given to children on Shichi-Go-San.
It is long, thin, red and white candy, which symbolizes healthy growth and longevity.
A girl has it. The behind boy wears a white Tabi and Hakama.
Here is Tomioka Hachiman Shrine, downtown area of Tokyo.
Please look at the whole " kimono ", click here.
"和" (WA, yawaragu). It is translated as peace, harmony, Japanese, etc.
This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.
Etymology : Phono-semantic compound
和 ⇒ 禾 (grain, rice) + 口 (mouth)
禾 : The state that the ears of the foxtail millet lower in the shape of a circle
The form of the circle suggests the peace.
This kanji brought the meaning to show our nation from ancient times, too.
You may have heard the Japanese heart.
The heart of " 和 (WA) ".
Our ancestor expressed both the peace and the national as one character.
They prayed to the both for descendants. And left this kanji to us as property.
I pray you and yours to peace.
