1.
unlucky year, year of calamity
Specific ages believed to bring bad luck or misfortune in Japanese tradition.
今年は厄年だ。
This year is my unlucky year.
厄年の厄払いをする。
To have a purification ceremony for the unlucky year.
男性の大厄は42歳だ。
The great unlucky year for men is age 42.
厄年 is a deeply rooted Japanese folk belief that certain ages are unlucky and bring heightened risk of misfortune, illness, or disaster.
UNLUCKY AGES (counted by 数え年, traditional age counting):
- Men: 25, 42 (大厄 — the most dangerous), 61
- Women: 19, 33 (大厄 — the most dangerous), 37, 61
The year before (前厄) and after (後厄) are also considered risky.
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 厄払い: purification ritual to ward off bad luck
- 厄除け: protection against misfortune
- 厄年に当たる: to be in one's unlucky year
CULTURE:
Many Japanese visit shrines or temples for 厄払い ceremonies during January or February of their 厄年. Even people who are not particularly religious often observe this custom. The number 42 (四十二) is especially feared because it sounds like 死に (death).