Okui-Zome (お食い初め) is literally "First Eating", and it's a common ritual for babies when they passed 100 days since their birth. Rice, soup, boiled vegetables, hot water and grilled fish served on Urushi plates. Japanese usually eat a red snapper to celebrate. We got a pretty big one for her! Oh, one more thing is on the tray. That is a stone from the shrine. It is said that the stone will make her teeth strong! This ceremony is to wish for the baby's their health and so that he/she will not worry abut food for their entire life.
The oldest parson in the family feeds the baby to wish her a long life.
Hannah's great grand mother (Yuka's mother's mother) who is 81 years old fed Hannah. We wished Sam's grand father could have done this since he is the oldest relative we have!
She loved licking the salty chopsticks....yummy...
Of course she can't eat these foods yet so WE enjoyed the food!
Hannah got wonderful presents from her grandma and her aunt!
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1 comment:
Oh, Yuka. This was such a wonderful story. I loved the history of the celebration, and the pictures made me feel like I was right there with you.
I will send Hannah's great-great grandfather a link so he can see all of it. The Internet is such a wonderful thing; it makes me feel so much closer. I want to be there so much.
Hopefully soon we can come.
Lots of love from Alan an me to all of you in Japan, and please save some red snapper for us, it's one of my favorite fishes!
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