1.
baby's first shrine visit
A traditional ceremony in which a newborn baby is brought to a Shinto shrine for the first time, typically around one month after birth, to pray for the child's health and protection.
赤ちゃんの初宮参りに行った。
We went for the baby's first shrine visit.
初宮参りでは家族全員が正装した。
The whole family dressed formally for the baby's first shrine visit.
祖母が赤ちゃんを抱いて初宮参りをするのが、昔からの習わしだ。
It is a longstanding custom for the grandmother to hold the baby during the first shrine visit.
A compound of 初 (first), 宮 (shrine), and 参り (visit, pilgrimage). Also commonly called お{宮参り}.
Traditionally performed on the 31st or 32nd day after birth for boys, and the 32nd or 33rd day for girls, though modern families are more flexible with timing. The baby is typically dressed in a white inner garment (白い着物) with a formal outer robe (祝着), and a Shinto priest performs a blessing.
This is one of the major life-cycle rituals (通過儀礼) in Japan, along with 七五三 and 成人式.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 初宮参りの写真: first shrine visit photos
- 初宮参りの着物: shrine visit kimono
- 初宮参りの祈祷: first shrine visit prayer
RELATED TERMS:
- お宮参り: shrine visit — the more common everyday name for this ceremony
- 七五三: 7-5-3 festival — another major childhood shrine visit at ages 3, 5, and 7
- お{食い初め}: baby's first meal ceremony — typically at 100 days after birth