Seventy-seventh birthday

This refers to a celebration of the 77th birthday according to the Japanese age reckoning system. It is also called the celebration of the character for joy, because the cursive form of the character for joy is written as 77. Celebrations for the 77th birthday did not exist before the Heian period, but began to be held towards the end of the Muromachi period. A banquet is held, just like celebrations for the 60th and 70th birthdays. In the Hadano region of Kanagawa Prefecture, it is customary to make a fire-blowing bamboo on July 7th, the 77th birthday, as a talisman to ward off bad luck caused by fire. It is said that this fire-blowing bamboo will blow back the fire in the event of a fire. In the Suwa region of Shinshu (Nagano Prefecture), people celebrate by giving gifts such as haori coats, kimonos, and walking sticks. In the family celebrating, the character for joy is written on red and white rice cakes and distributed.

[Oto Tokihiko]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

数え年77歳の年祝いをいう。喜の字の祝いともいうように、喜の字の草書体が七十七と書かれるからである。喜寿の祝いは平安時代以前にはなく室町時代の末期ごろから行われるようになった。還暦、古稀(こき)などの年祝いと同じく祝宴が催される。神奈川県秦野(はだの)地方では77歳の7月7日に火吹き竹をつくって火事厄(よ)けのまじないとする風があった。火災のときこの火吹き竹で火を吹き返すという。信州（長野県）諏訪(すわ)地方では羽織、着物、杖(つえ)などを贈って祝う。祝われる家では紅白の餅(もち)に喜の字を記して配るという。

［大藤時彦］

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