七五三 Shichi-Go-San

or seven-five-three for anyone not currently up on their Japanese. These numbers do not relates to waist sizes for a particular store of jeans, but rather a Japanese holiday held every year on today, November 15th. However, since it is not a national holiday and children must still go to school, it is typically celebrated on the preceding weekend.

It is the day when all of the girls of ages 3 or 7 and boys of ages 3 or 5 make their way to a shrine. Why 7-5-3? That is because in Asian culture odd numbers are often seen as lucky. This is a celebration of the passage into middle childhood as well as a celebration for a long and healthy life. On this day children get elaborately dressed up, little girls dress up in fine kimonos, and boys will often wear haori and hakama. Often times going to photo studios for memorable portraits of the day. In present days, more and more children often wear fancy western styled clothes to visit the shrines.

In earlier years (the Edo period) this passage into middle childhood meant that they no longer had to shave their heads as of age 3. And then boys of age 5 were allowed to hakama for the first time. At age 7 girls graduate to being allowed to wear an obi instead of cords to tie their kimono.

haori are the over coats they are wearing.
hakama are the pants that are belted above the waist.

you can see the bow from her obi in the back

Following the purification ritual, parents will sometimes by chitose-ame for their children. Which is translated to thousand year candy. This is a long candy-cane like candy with its red and white stripes. This candy, typically presented by a turtle and a crane upon the package, represents longevity, so that their children may have a long healthy life and happiness.