As the baby approaches the three-month mark, people may start talking about how it's almost time for the baby's first meal. This "Okuizome" ceremony is held on the 100th day after a baby's birth, with the hope that the baby will never have trouble eating in the rest of its life.
It is literally the "first time eating food" day, but since the baby is still not yet able to actually eat food, the baby is made to "pretend to eat".
■The origin of the Okuizome ceremony
As mentioned at the beginning, Okuizome is a ceremony to pray that the baby will never be short of food even when he or she grows up. It is thought to have originated from a custom called "Momoka" that existed during the Heian period.
In ancient times, when the environment for babies to grow up was not as easy as it is today, there were various events to celebrate the growth of babies. The 100th day was one of them, and at the time, it was a ceremony to feed the baby mochi (just a little in the mouth), but it is said that over time, rice, fish, soup, etc. were also served.
When pretending to eat at the first meal ceremony, chopsticks are used, and since it is the first time using chopsticks, in some regions the ceremony is called "hashizoroe" or "hashizome."
Also, for some children, this is the time when their teeth are starting to grow in, so it may be called a "teething ring."
■Why use stones?
Many people may have questions about the "stone" used in the first meal ceremony.
The reason why stones are needed is to pray for "your teeth to be strong enough to eat hard foods." Because of this function, they are also called "tooth-hardening stones."
However, the stones are purely symbolic, so busy families do not need to go out of their way to prepare one, and in some regions, pickled plums (wrinkled plums, a symbol of longevity) are sometimes used instead.
Types of stones and how to obtain them
・Receive it at the shrine where the baby was born (*There may be a fee)
・Borrow a stone from the grounds of the shrine where the baby was born and return it at a later date
・Look for smooth stones on the riverbank
In either case, be sure to clean the stone thoroughly before using it.
How to use stones
Once you've pretended to feed your baby all the food, a teething rock is often used as a final finishing touch, by touching the tip of a chopstick to the rock and then gently placing the chopstick against the baby's teeth and gums.
■How should the first meal be arranged?
This is the traditional way of arranging Japanese food, known as "honzen ryori." When you purchase tableware for the first meal, each one has a different shape, so please refer to the tableware below to arrange the food. You can also use tableware you have at home.
Front left: Oyawan (parent bowl)...Rice Front right: Shiruwan (soup bowl)...Miso soup, clear soup, etc. Back left: Hirawan (flat bowl)...Cooked dishes such as simmered dishes. Sometimes grilled fish is placed on it. Back right: Tsubowan (pot bowl)...Cold dishes such as sesame dressing, vinegared dishes, pickled vegetables, sashimi, etc. Center: Koshidaka (waist-high bowl)...Teething stone, pickled plum
■ Make the day of celebration fun, but within reason.
If you try to hold the Okuizome ceremony "according to the customs," it will end up being a lot of work for the household. Furthermore, it is an event that will take place when you are still taking care of a baby who is 3 months old and not yet used to it, so please enjoy it within your limits. There are also restaurants and eateries that offer Okuizome plans, so if you are interested, please check them out.
Please prepare little by little so that you can spend a wonderful day rejoicing in your baby's growth so far and in the future. Also, since the main character is your baby, please take your baby's physical condition and mood into consideration.
If you are looking for tableware for the first meal, Agnie has it available.
Please take advantage of our organic tableware made from auspicious natural bamboo, including the simple 6-piece set that can be used for a long time after the baby's first meal.
For more detailed product information, click here
https://www.agney.jp/item-okuizome.html
