In Japan, the festival known as shichi-go-san is held annually on November 15. It celebrates three and seven year old girls and five year old boys. These numbers are seen traditionally to be lucky numbers and it is a practise that has continued since the Heian Period – 794-1185. The family visit a shrine or a temple and pray for health and happiness for their child.
In modern day Japan, it is lovely to see the traditions being kept alive. Its special to see the children being paraded at the shrines in kimono or hakama. The day is not a national holiday but rather observed on the nearest weekend.
After the visit to the shrine the parents buy chitose-ame or sweets/candy- for the children. The candy is shaped like a stick and comes in a bag that carries illustrations of cranes and turtles. These animals symbolise longevity in Japan.
What is so special is that we still have photos of our great-grandma, Sadako dressed in kimono at the age of three. 
Sadako Toyoshima lived in Hiroshima. This is her in 1908 standing in front of her house waiting to go to the shrine. Her parents must have also expressed the wish that she led a long and prosperous life. Luckily, Sadako did.
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