Courtney Irwin, center, a Japanese I student at Allegheny-Clarion Valley High School, presents a traditional candy bag to Gina Denny and Robert Lipnichan.

The holiday of Shichi-Go-San will be celebrated with a children's program at 10 a.m. Nov. 8 at the Maridon Museum, 322 N. McKean St.

Education ambassador and Allegheny-Clarion Valley Japanese teacher Dixie Lipnichan will facilitate the celebration.

Shichi-Go-San literally means 7-5-3. Held in Japan on Nov. 15, the Shichi-Go-San festival celebrates children as they turn ages 3, 5 and 7.

During the highly interactive program at the Maridon Museum, children will have the opportunity to dress up in traditional Japanese clothes, play with kami fuzen (paper ball) and decorate a candy bag. The bags were assembled by students in Lipnichan's Japanese I classes.

The festival began in the Heian period (794-1185) among the noble class of Japan but in the Edo period (1603-1868) spread to commoners and today is still enjoyed by children across Japan.

During the festival children dress up in traditional clothes and visit shrines to receive chitose-ame, thousand-year candy. The candy is long to signify the parent's desire for their children to live a long and prosperous life. The candy is placed in bags festooned with cranes and turtles — both traditional symbols of longevity in Japan.

This Maridon program is free, but reservations are required and children must be accompanied by an adult. The program is open to children ages 3 to 9. For reservations, call 724-282-0123.