Title: Shichi-Go-San
Author: Gramarye
E-mail: gramarye@rochester.rr.com
Part No.: Prologue
Rating (overall series): G+


In order to understand the following story, you must first know 
something about the festival that the story is named after and centers 
around.
Shichi-Go-San is a Japanese festival that takes place every year 
on the fifteenth of November.  The name, literally translated, means 
“Seven-Five-Three”.  The tradition is based on the belief that these 
ages are extremely lucky for children, and that decisions made during 
those years will influence their growth and well being.  
On the day of the festival, Japanese boys who are either three 
or five years old and girls who are either three or seven years old go 
with their families to a shrine or other place of worship.   At the 
shrine, the families give thanks for the children’s health and pray 
for their future happiness.  The children wear their finest clothes, 
either Western outfits or elaborate kimonos.  Children receive candy 
at the shrine, and give it to visiting family members (who often give 
them gifts in return!)
Unfortunately, I must take a rather large liberty with this fes-
tival in order to write my story.  I am going to include five-year-old 
girls within the age limit, although most of the sources I consulted 
say that girls of that age do not attend Shichi-Go-San.  Since my main 
character (you can probably guess whom automatically) is five at the 
time this story takes place, the tradition wouldn’t encompass her.  
Worse things have been done in the name of poetic license, and I prom-
ise to explain the reason for the deviation in the context of the 
story.  
For information on Shichi-Go-San and other related aspects of 
Japanese culture and society, your preferred search engine can lead 
you to a host of fascinating webpages.  I hope you enjoy the story...

Gramarye
gramarye@rochester.rr.com