Five unique Japanese events in a child’s first year

Japan has a culture that is rich with tradition and events for every season. As someone who comes from a place where it is often a celebrated “thing” to buck tradition rather than embrace it, I’m charmed. The grand entrance of a child into the world also brings with it a unique variety of special customs. While not many families will follow them all, there are no fewer than ten traditions to have considered by baby’s first birthday. Here, we take a look at five of them.

Oshichiya Meimei Shiki (Baby Naming Ceremony)

In line with its Chinese characters (七, shichi, meaning 7 and 夜, ya, meaning night) oshichiya traditionally takes places on the 7th night after the birth. The baby’s name is announced to an intimate gathering (usually just a few close relatives) and will have been written in calligraphy on a scroll or card. The baby will be dressed in white (traditionally, newborns are dressed in white until after 17 days) and guests present gifts of money and partake in a celebratory meal.

Okuizome (First meal)

Okuizome (お食い初め) usually takes place around the baby’s 100th day of life. A celebratory meal is prepared and presented to the baby as her “first meal.” Of course, while the parents might tentatively attempt to give baby a taste, at 3 months she is unlikely to eat much leaving the adults to devour the feast on offer.

For example, umeboshi (dried plum) is included to symbolize hope that the baby will live until she is old and wrinkly. The extravagance of the feast itself expresses the hope that the child will enjoy an abundance of nutritious foods and health throughout her life. The baby is also given smooth round “teething” stones to munch on.

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