1.
unlucky year, year of calamity
Specific ages believed to bring bad luck or misfortune in Japanese tradition.
厄年には本厄の前後に前厄・後厄があり、三年間続けて厄払いをする人も多い。
In the unlucky year, there are pre-unlucky and post-unlucky years surrounding the main unlucky year, and many people do purification rites for three consecutive years.
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).