1.
baby's first meal ceremony; ritual first feeding
A traditional ceremony held around 100 days after birth.
来週、お食い初めをする予定だ。
We're planning to hold the first-meal ceremony next week.
お食い初めには鯛を用意するのが伝統だ。
It's traditional to prepare sea bream for the first-meal ceremony.
祖父母も招いて、家族全員でお食い初めを祝った。
We invited the grandparents and celebrated the first-meal ceremony with the whole family.
A traditional Japanese ceremony performed around the 100th day after a baby's birth to wish for a lifetime of good eating. The baby is presented with a formal meal, though they do not actually eat the food. An elder (typically the oldest family member present) touches chopsticks to the food and then to the baby's lips.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- お食い初めの儀式: first-meal ceremony ritual
- お食い初め膳: ceremonial meal tray for first feeding
- お食い初めを祝う: to celebrate the first-meal ceremony
CULTURAL NOTES:
The traditional menu includes 一汁三菜 (one soup, three dishes): 赤飯 (red bean rice), 鯛 (whole sea bream), soup, and pickled vegetables. A small stone (歯固めの石) is also placed on the tray as a wish for the child to develop strong teeth. Also known as 百日祝い (100-day celebration).
RELATED TERMS:
- 百日祝い: 100-day celebration (alternate name)
- お宮参り: shrine visit for a newborn (typically at one month)
- 七五三: 7-5-3 celebration for children