Before anything else I'd like to tell you what Omiyamairi means..
お宮参り (Omiyamairi) is a shortened word for Hatsumiyamairi which means 'first shrine visit'. It's a ceremony which we bring our Japanese baby to the Shinto Shrine one month after birth (31 days for boys and 33 days for girls) or before the babies' 100th day. Modern japanese parents usually bring their babies before or on the baby's exact 100th day anniversary to celebrate Omiyamairi and お食い初め (Okuizome) which means, 'baby's first meal' together. They either eat somewhere or get their babies photo taken at the studio. We ate at a restaurant nearby after his Omiyamairi and made Haru drink his first soup 'coz we can't actually feed him yet. In tradition, (according to my husband) the mother of the father of the baby will be the one to carry the baby throughout the ceremony. Everyone has to wear formal clothes because it's a ceremony. The ceremony is how the Japanese welcome the baby into the community. The monk prays for the babies health and happiness. After the ceremony the monk will give the baby a wood with an Omamori (Talisman or Charm) inside which will be the babies very own and the baby will carry this throught the his/her life. The temple charged us ¥10,000 'coz it's our first baby and our first time. You get a discount for the 2nd baby. Lol.
Now onto my story~
We've finally given Haru a proper Omiyamairi and a not so proper Okuizome ceremony! Lol. At first I was worried 'coz Haru is already pass 100. (He's 148 days now. Lol.) And my biggest concern if it's still okay for Haru to undergo the ceremony. We asked Studio Alice first if it's still okay even though Haru is already (almost) 5 months and they told us it's fine. They said that 3-5 months is okay but they're not sure about 6 month olds 'coz they're not sure if the kimono will still fit. So we were able to rent a kimono for Haru for free as long as we get Haru's picture taken afterwards at Studio Alice. Lol.
The temple we've made reservations to also told as that it's okay even if Haru's (almost) 5 months old so what a relief! We celebrated his Omiyamairi and his not so proper Okuizome!
Although my husband told me that most Japanese people don't do it anymore.. and unlike in the past.. they're not that strict as long as you pay money at the temple. They won't complain you giving your son a late Omiyamairi ceremony as long as you pay! He says.
But in my opinion, I guess it's between 3-5 months 'coz at 6 months the kimono might not fit the baby anymore..
Japanese culture is confusing sometimes. 'Coz it's very different from the Philippine culture that I'm accustomed to. But I absolutely love it! And I'm loving that I'm learning more and more about Japanese culture with the help of my new family.
お宮参り (Omiyamairi) is a shortened word for Hatsumiyamairi which means 'first shrine visit'. It's a ceremony which we bring our Japanese baby to the Shinto Shrine one month after birth (31 days for boys and 33 days for girls) or before the babies' 100th day. Modern japanese parents usually bring their babies before or on the baby's exact 100th day anniversary to celebrate Omiyamairi and お食い初め (Okuizome) which means, 'baby's first meal' together. They either eat somewhere or get their babies photo taken at the studio. We ate at a restaurant nearby after his Omiyamairi and made Haru drink his first soup 'coz we can't actually feed him yet. In tradition, (according to my husband) the mother of the father of the baby will be the one to carry the baby throughout the ceremony. Everyone has to wear formal clothes because it's a ceremony. The ceremony is how the Japanese welcome the baby into the community. The monk prays for the babies health and happiness. After the ceremony the monk will give the baby a wood with an Omamori (Talisman or Charm) inside which will be the babies very own and the baby will carry this throught the his/her life. The temple charged us ¥10,000 'coz it's our first baby and our first time. You get a discount for the 2nd baby. Lol.
Now onto my story~
We've finally given Haru a proper Omiyamairi and a not so proper Okuizome ceremony! Lol. At first I was worried 'coz Haru is already pass 100. (He's 148 days now. Lol.) And my biggest concern if it's still okay for Haru to undergo the ceremony. We asked Studio Alice first if it's still okay even though Haru is already (almost) 5 months and they told us it's fine. They said that 3-5 months is okay but they're not sure about 6 month olds 'coz they're not sure if the kimono will still fit. So we were able to rent a kimono for Haru for free as long as we get Haru's picture taken afterwards at Studio Alice. Lol.
The temple we've made reservations to also told as that it's okay even if Haru's (almost) 5 months old so what a relief! We celebrated his Omiyamairi and his not so proper Okuizome!
「 Kimono Haru used for the ceremony 」
Why do I keep saying that we didn't give Haru a proper Okuizome celebration?
It's 'coz we didn't order the traditional foods you're supposed to make or order during an Okuizome ceremony. Instead, we ordered hamburger, salads, tonkatsu and etc. Lol.
「 Haru's first sip of soup 」
My husband told me that it's totally fine even if we didn't undergo a proper Omiyamairi. He just wanted to go to the temple, pray for Haru and leave! He's not a traditional type of guy.. He just want to get things over with. I, on the other hand wanted to give him a proper ceremony. If it wasn't for the internet and my mother in law. We wouldn't be able to make this possible so thanks to my convincing skills and research that I was able to give Haru the ceremony he deserves! Lol.
「 Our Family Photo 」
The only photo I get to download for free on their site. Jeez..
Although my husband told me that most Japanese people don't do it anymore.. and unlike in the past.. they're not that strict as long as you pay money at the temple. They won't complain you giving your son a late Omiyamairi ceremony as long as you pay! He says.
But in my opinion, I guess it's between 3-5 months 'coz at 6 months the kimono might not fit the baby anymore..
Japanese culture is confusing sometimes. 'Coz it's very different from the Philippine culture that I'm accustomed to. But I absolutely love it! And I'm loving that I'm learning more and more about Japanese culture with the help of my new family.
