Yesterday we took Yul to Fukashi Shrine in Matsumoto (built 1339) for his Omiyamairi. Literally meaning "a visit to a shrine", Omiyamairi is a Shinto ritual similar to the Christian baptism ceremony. It occurs when the baby is about one month old. They wear a special white clothes for the ceremony, and have a special kimono draped over them. As Yul's grandmother held him, the priest presented the news of the birth to the guardian spirit of the shrine, and offered thanks. He then asked the spirit to protect Yul and keep him healthy. He blessed some sake for us, and at the end of the ceremony we put some on Yul's cheek and each took a sip.
On the same day, we went to a photo studio and took pictures with Yul in the special kimono. At various times it was difficult to get him to look towards the camera, stop crying, or wake up. We were at the studio for over three hours, and over an hour at the shrine, which made for a very long day of carrying Yul and sweating through the thirty plus degree weather when outside.
I hope you enjoy the video of the ceremony. Don't worry about understanding what he's saying. Even Japanese people don't understand everything that he says, and all I really caught was parts about asking spirits for protection, and when he called out Yuki and my names and our address.
１２日に松本市にある深志神社にお宮参りに行きました。すごく暑かったし、神社に行く前に３時間以上写真館で記念撮影をしていたとのでとても疲れました。悠流は頑張っていたけどなかなかカメラに向かないし、泣くことや寝ることも多かったです。日本に来てから神社に何回か観光として行ったことはあるけど、今度は初めて中に入って、式に参加しました。キリスト教の洗礼と結構似ていたけど、一番違ったのは神主が全てのことをするところです。洗礼だと、親や他に参加してる人も祈ったり、赤ちゃんを守るように神様の前で誓います。悠流の初めての長い外出ということもあって、とても楽しかったです。
On the same day, we went to a photo studio and took pictures with Yul in the special kimono. At various times it was difficult to get him to look towards the camera, stop crying, or wake up. We were at the studio for over three hours, and over an hour at the shrine, which made for a very long day of carrying Yul and sweating through the thirty plus degree weather when outside.
I hope you enjoy the video of the ceremony. Don't worry about understanding what he's saying. Even Japanese people don't understand everything that he says, and all I really caught was parts about asking spirits for protection, and when he called out Yuki and my names and our address.
１２日に松本市にある深志神社にお宮参りに行きました。すごく暑かったし、神社に行く前に３時間以上写真館で記念撮影をしていたとのでとても疲れました。悠流は頑張っていたけどなかなかカメラに向かないし、泣くことや寝ることも多かったです。日本に来てから神社に何回か観光として行ったことはあるけど、今度は初めて中に入って、式に参加しました。キリスト教の洗礼と結構似ていたけど、一番違ったのは神主が全てのことをするところです。洗礼だと、親や他に参加してる人も祈ったり、赤ちゃんを守るように神様の前で誓います。悠流の初めての長い外出ということもあって、とても楽しかったです。
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