Celebration of Longevity
There are some special age in Japan, and we celebrate the birthday of the year in different ways from usual.
長寿のお祝い
First, when you reach the age of 60, it’s called “kan-reki,” where “kan” means “return,” and “reki” means “almanac.”
日本には、特別な年齢が幾つかあり、その年の誕生日は普段と違った方法でお祝いをします。
Since the Oriental zodiac is composed of 60 kinds and it repeats itself every 60 years, we think the 61st birthday is special.
まず、60歳になることを還暦と言います。
In the celebration of the kan-reki, we present a red chanchanko (red padded sleeveless kimono jacket, red Japanese vest) that have the meaning of an amulet, and the kan-reki person wear it.
その年を表す「干支」は全部で60種類あり、61年目で生まれた時の干支に還ることから、特別な年だと考えられています。
Also, to reach the age of 88 is called “bei-ju,” where “bei” means “rice,” and “ju” means “almanac.”
還暦では、魔除けの意味を持つ赤いちゃんちゃんこを贈り、身に付けてもらう風習があります。
The reason is because the kanji “八十八 (which means 88)” looks like the transformation of the kanji “米 (which means rice), and we present a yellow chanchanko wishing for good health.
また、88歳になることを米寿と言います。
To be the age of 99 is called “haku-ju,” where “haku” means “white.”
八十八という漢字が米という漢字をくずしたものに見えるためであり、このとき健康を願って黄色のちゃんちゃんこを贈ります。
The reason is because the kanji “百 (which means one hundred)” becomes “白 (which means white)” when you subtract “一 (which means one)” from “百,” and we present a whilte chanchanko.
そして、99歳になることを白寿と言います。
My father will reach the kan-reki this year, so my brother, my sister and I have to prepare the celebration.
百という漢字から一を引くと白になるためであり、このとき白いちゃんちゃんこを贈ります。
