お七夜(しちや)

A traditional Japanese ceremony held on the seventh night after a baby's birth. The main purpose is the formal naming of the child. The baby's name is written on a 命名書(めいめいしょ) (naming certificate) and displayed in the home.

Ceremony customs

• 命名書(めいめいしょ) — a calligraphied card or paper announcing the baby's name, displayed on the wall or at the family altar
• 祝(いわ)い膳(ぜん) — a celebratory meal, traditionally including 尾頭付(おかしらつ)きの鯛(たい) (whole sea bream) and 赤飯(せきはん) (red bean rice)
• Family members and close relatives gather to meet the baby

Related celebrations

• 宮参(みやまい)り / お宮参(みやまい)り — first shrine visit (around 30 days after birth)
• 百日祝(ももかいわ)い / お食(く)い初(ぞ)め — 100-day celebration with symbolic first meal
• 初節句(はつぜっく) — first seasonal festival after birth

Usage

Also written without the honorific お as 七夜(しちや), but the お七夜(しちや) form is far more common.