A Tsuchinoe day that falls closest to the vernal or autumnal equinox day was originally known as a shanichi day, and shrine parishioners visited shrines which enshrined their local deities to pray for a good harvest on the spring shanich day or to thank for a successful harvest on the autumn shanichi day.
もともとこの日に最も近い戊の日は、社日として氏子が氏神たる神社に参詣し、春は五穀豊穣を祈り、秋は実りある収穫に感謝する習わしがあった。