Dondo-yaki Festival tomorrow in Japan

We will have Dondo-yaki festivals tomorrow in shrines here.

We bring New Year's decorations and calligraphy named "kakizome" we wrote during the New Year's Days as children's homework of the winter vacation to the nearest shrine until the festival.

And they burn a mountain of decorations in the evening and give rice cakes to coming people. 


Tomorrow morning we will clean the park next to the shrine with kids and their parents as the children party's event, take over the work from the old to the new members (I'm one of the old members from the last April to this March), and then I'll go back home to get our New Year's decorations at home. 

The Dondo-yaki festival starts at 19:00. 
I'm wondering we could go to see after my daughter's swimming pool. If we can attend, I'll take a photo of it. 



                                                             



明日はどんど焼きの日ですね。

午前中は子供会行事でその神社横の公園をみんなで清掃し、そのまま次年度の子供会役員の新旧引継ぎをして、一旦帰宅し、家にある正月飾り等を神社に持って行って焼いて貰おうと思っています。 

どんど焼きは19時から、ちょうど、プールから帰って来てるから、見に行けるかな～。 

New Year Decorations in Japan

Shimenawa

When my kids saw a shimenawa decoration hanging down at the front of a car, I thought the car and the owner of it were very cool.

Though I often see many ones which are decorated at the top of a door, I can hardly see it recently. but the owner still keeps the custom, and I was impressed with the mind.

We have some things for a New Year, shimenawa, kadomatsu and kagami mochi.
Shimenawa is a decoration to the upper of a front door, Kadomatsu is at the entrance of a door and Kagami mochi is put the inside house, mostly in front of the family Buddhist altar.

Old type of Shimenawa

Kadomatsu

Kagami mochi, rice cake

Kagamimi mochi, or rice cake is cut slice after a fer day display, and we can deep-fry and roast it to cook rice crackers.


　When are the new year's decorations set?

After the Christmas, we should decorate them by December 28, because we have to avoid 2 days of December 29 and 31.

December 29, we dislike the number of 9, because it makes us image disasters and to be suffered from something.
December 31 is just one day before the new year, which is very rude to the God.


　When and how should we get rid of these decorations?

As for the timing of removal, most districts have to get rid of them by January 7, and most of New Year decorations are fired at a shrine in the festival named "Donto yaki" on January 15.
While we see the fire go up to the sky, we are praying for our own wishes like for our good health, rich harvest and good works on business. 

I wanted to enjoy the New Year's coming, but we seem to share nothing special with my kids this year too... too bad.
I'd like to talk about New Year's decorations and enjoy "Donto yaki" with them, ahaha.



                                                                             



子供がつい数日前、しめ縄を飾っている車を見て、珍しいなあって言ったのを聞いて、その車が、その車の持ち主の事を何かカッコよく思えました。


家の玄関先に飾っているしめ縄は一杯あるけれど、車に飾る人はすっごく減った中、それを貫き通しているその人に感心しました。


しめ縄っていつ頃飾るのか、どのタイミングで、どのように片付け処理をするのか、ちょっと書いてみました。 


クリスマスが終わってから、29日と31日は飾ってはいけない日なので、28日までに飾る物ですよね。
29は、9がつくので「苦しむ」を連想するので避ける。31日は直前過ぎるので神様に失礼にあたるので避けるということですよね。


取り外すタイミングとしては、ほとんどの地区が1/7までに外し、1/15のどんと焼きで正月飾りを神社で焼いて貰うことにより、神様がお空に上って行くのを見守りながら、1年を健康に無事に生活出来るように、豊作を、仕事が上手く行くようにと…それぞれの新な一年をお祈りをします。 



今年こそ、正月飾りを飾って子どもと楽しもうと思っていたのに、今年も特に何もしないまま終わってしまう…。あかんなあ…。
せめて、正月飾りについてあれこれ話をして、どんと焼きを楽しみたいと思います、あはは。