November in the lunar calendar is called Shimotsuki, which means the frost month literally, aka, Shinki-zuki, or the god returning month, Yuki-machi zuki, or snow-awaited month, etc.

Culture Day on November 3rd, Labor Thanksgiving day on 23rd, etc. comes in the month. Let me describe 753 (Shichi-go-san, or Seven-Five–Three Festival ) this time around.

753 is a festival in which boys of 3 and 5 of age and girls of 3 and 7 of age pay their respects at a shrine to pray for their continued health and well-being. In the old days, people were concerned about their infants high mortality rate promoted by their poor nutrition. At the age of 7, children were regarded as little men and little women who would grow up all right, which is said to have been celebrated.

Originally, 753, or Seven-Five–Three Festival was observed on a good day selected in November, but since the Meiji era, it has been fixed on November 15, because this particular day in the lunar calendar was supposed to be a good day in doing anything according to the way of telling bad or good luck, and it followed suit as it was into the solar calendar.

For another theory, on this particular day, Iemitsu, the 3rd Shogun, or the general worried about poor health of Ietsuna, the 5th Shogun to observe the rite to pray for his safe and healthy growth.

Currently back to the original, however, people do not stick to November 15, but mostly either 15 or a more convenient day sometime within the month. They used to visit a Shinto shrine to pray to the patron gods, have commemorative photos of the family taken at the photo studio, and enjoy a meal together with their grandfathers and grandmothers as well to celebrate the 753 Festival.

Today, the custom is changing like they do not observe those events together but on separate dates, skipping off eating party because of their nuclear-sized family.

Also, 753 is celebrated with eating Shitoseame, or Thousand Year candy. It is said that in Genroku of the Edo era, Hirano Jinzaemon, a candy vendor began selling candies of good luck omen named Thiousand Year Candy, Longevity Candy in a long bag designed crane and tortoise, pine, bamboo and plum.

Today, there are many kinds of sales promotions for 753 at photo studios or hotels. It is very interesting to learn that there were people who promoted sales even in the Edo era is not it?