Even if you are a new parent and have no experience in feeding your child for the first time, you may have an image of it as an event in which you place treats in front of your baby and dress them in fancy costumes. The first meal is a traditional event to pray for the baby's healthy growth. We prepare one soup, three side dishes, and a teething stone, and have them imitate eating according to the flow, but there is no big difference in the content for boys and girls other than the costumes. Please learn the true meaning and history of the beginning of eating, celebrate the birth of your child, and make it a wonderful day to pray for his growth.

In each section, we will explain what kind of celebration Oku-Hajime is and its history.

The beginning of a baby's eating is an event related to food, and there are multiple names depending on the region, such as "Chopstick celebration," "Manahaji," "Hashizome," and "Togatame." Masu. It is sometimes called the ``Hundred Days Celebration'' because it is held around 100 days after birth.

At the beginning of the meal, we pray that the baby will not have trouble eating for the rest of his life. Food, including fish, is lined up in front of the baby. Of course, babies can't eat food yet, so they imitate eating. The following are the most orthodox dishes to prepare for your baby at the beginning of their first meal.

• Fish (bream with tail)
• rice
• Soup

Depending on the region, the number and content of the rice may vary, such as sekihan, simmered dishes, and pickled vegetables (pickles or vinegared dishes), so please ask your parents about the area where you live.

Teething stones are prepared along with the food. After pretending to feed your baby, touch the teething stone with the tips of your chopsticks, then touch the tips of the chopsticks to your baby's gums. This symbolizes the wish for good teeth to grow.

Teething stones can be obtained by borrowing them from the local deity, or by purchasing pre-praised ones sold online. If you are borrowing a stone from a shrine dedicated to a guardian deity, pick up an affordable stone on the grounds and return it to its original location when you are finished using it. Remember to sterilize the stones by boiling before the ceremony.

After the first meal ceremony, the adults have fun together as a family, eating the feast together and taking pictures of the babies in their colorful costumes. The important thing is not the ritual steps or appearance, but to pray for the baby and make it a day that the whole family can smile about. Enjoy a fun start to your meal by taking a photo with your baby in a different outfit than usual, or having a feast with your family.

The origin of the beginning of the meal dates back to the Heian period. At that time, nutritional conditions were not as good as they are today, and there were concerns about medical care and hygiene. It took a lot of effort to raise the baby safely and large. For this reason, rituals to pray for the baby's growth have been actively held.

In the Heian period, on the 50th day after a baby was born, there was a celebration called ``50th Day Celebration'' where a small amount of rice cake that had been soaked in rice porridge was placed in the baby's mouth. In modern times, it is mainly the mother who performs the ritual of feeding the baby, but back then it seems that the father was responsible.

Eventually, the timing of the celebration became the 100th day after birth, and the name came to be ``Momoka'' (100 days). In the Kamakura period, the food used for celebrations changed from rice cakes to fish, which became ``Mao Hajime.''

Descriptions of the beginning of the meal remain in books such as ``Heike Monogatari'', ``Genpei Rise and Susuki'', which depict the prosperity and fall of the Heike clan, and the history book ``Azuma Kagami''. There is even a record that Sei Taishogun Minamoto no Sanetomo actually held the first meal on the 100th day after his birth. Furthermore, the Kakaisho, a book from the Muromachi period that is a commentary on the Tale of Genji, states that Emperor Reizei (reigned from 967 to 969) was offered mochi on his 100th day of life. there is.

Although the method has changed little by little over time, this ritual of praying for healthy growth has been practiced for a long time since around the Heian period. Information surrounding babies, such as childcare and nutrition, will be constantly updated.

However, traditions that have long been imbued with people's feelings are also important. Celebrate your precious baby with a ritual that has a history of over 1000 years.

Since the first meal is a family celebration, it is not necessarily necessary to prepare a full-fledged costume.

However, since it is a once-in-a-lifetime important anniversary for the baby and a traditional ceremony that has been going on for over 1,000 years, many parents will still want to prepare special costumes. There are many parents who dress their babies in gorgeous costumes and take commemorative photos. On the 100th day of your baby's rapid growth, please make sure to capture him in a special outfit that is different from his usual clothes.

Here, we will introduce recommended costumes for boys and girls to start the meal. For moms and dads who took their newborn photo in a dress, please also check out Japanese clothing such as a hakama for the traditional Japanese event of eating the first meal.

Below are some popular costumes for boys to wear at the beginning of their meal.

suit style romper

It is a romper that has an integrated top and bottom and can be worn while the baby is lying down, but it looks like a suit. There are also tuxedo style ones.

kimono style romper

Similar to a suit-style romper, this is an outfit that you can easily put your baby in while sleeping. There is no need for complicated dressing, so parents can quickly dress their children at home.

Jinbei

Jinbei, which often come in bright colors, can also be used as a simple costume for celebrations. Especially if you are going to have a meal in the summer, there are many jinbei on sale and you can choose from a variety of designs.

Suit style, hakama style

The easiest costume. The baby's clothes should be a romper in a modest color, and a bib can be added over it to make it look like the baby is wearing a suit or hakama. It's very easy as all you have to do is attach one large bib. You may want to prepare more than one and enjoy changing the color.

Hakama

Since this is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, an increasing number of parents are choosing to wear authentic hakama. Since you probably won't have many opportunities to wear them in your daily life, why not make the effort to dress your pet in a gorgeous outfit just for one day?

Tsukihana's hakama has an authentic look and material, but the zipper makes it easy to put on and take off. Enjoy the moment when your cute baby looks like a sharp boy.

There are a variety of costumes, from casual to authentic, from Western to Japanese, but since the beginning of your meal is a traditional Japanese event, if you can't decide, we recommend choosing Japanese attire. We recommend trying out an easy-to-wear suit-style romper for photo shoots at home, or changing it up by wearing a hakama at a photo studio or shrine.

Below are some of the standard outfits that girls wear for the first time they eat a meal.

baby dress

Many families may already have cute baby dresses with flowing lace and frills that they used on the day they left the hospital or when they visited a shrine. Some people even wear the same dress for the first meal because they want to see the cute dress again. If they wear the same clothes, it will be easier to compare their growth in photos. Of course, we also recommend purchasing a dress for your first meal and using it again for Christmas or other occasions.

kimono style romper

There are kimono-style rompers that are easy to wear for girls as well as boys. Most of them have plastic hook buttons and hook-and-loop fasteners that are hard to see, so you can make them look very similar to a kimono.

Dress style, hakama style

Hairstyles that look like a dress or hakama just by wearing them are popular among girls as well as boys. You want to take pictures with multiple outfits, but having to change clothes over and over again can be a burden on the baby. This is where a style that makes you look like you're wearing a costume comes in handy. At first glance, some styles are so authentic that you can't even tell they're styles.

Hakama

Kimono-style and hakama-style rompers and bibs are easy and good, but they are just "style". A hakama with a separate top and bottom has a distinct look. Since this is a special occasion to celebrate, please consider wearing a full-fledged hakama.

After your child grows up, you may find yourself looking back at your favorite photos. If you're a girl who likes fashion, you'll be happy to know that she was always dressed up even when she didn't remember.

If you choose a cute hakama as your first meal outfit, be sure to pay close attention to your hair accessories as well. Tsukihana also has hair accessories that go well with hakama.

The first meal, a traditional Japanese event that has been going on since the Heian period, is an event held around 100 days after birth to pray that the baby will not have trouble eating.

Take this opportunity to dress your baby in beautiful costumes and take wonderful family photos. Baby dresses are popular for girls, but if you are planning to hold a historical event, we recommend wearing Japanese clothing such as a hakama or kimono. Baby costumes are designed to be easy to wear, so you won't have to worry about putting them on. If you are looking for the perfect costume for boys or girls to start your meal, please use our online store.

Tsukihana's hakama is a well-thought-out costume for babies that is both authentic and easy to wear. Hakama ``Kaze'' rompers and bibs are easy to wear, but these items have the elegance of authentic Japanese clothing that is difficult to achieve. Please consider wearing a hakama for a once-in-a-lifetime important celebration.

Tsukihana also sells tsumami-zaiku hair bands and botanical number banners. If you want to dress up in a beautiful costume and take stylish photos on a special anniversary, please check it out.