January 3, 2011

Yummy Decoration


This Shime-kazari is something Japanese people put on their doors or gates during the new year period to ward the bad spirits away. It is also a way to welcome the gods inside the house at the start of the year.

Most people go and get a shime-kazari at a temple or shrine...but these days you can also order them online. This one decorated the door of a hair salon near Tokorozawa Station. I'm always curious what people do with the orange after they take it down. 

And if you're wondering about the rabbit poster in the window...2011 is the year of the rabbit!

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Did you put the Shime-kazari too on your door?
I'm also curios how it's made...
:)

VP said...

It's a very interesting tradition, I'd like to have a Shime-kazari on my door! Next year I'll try to order on online...

arabesque said...

cute ornament. ^0^
and the bunny's even cuter!

EG CameraGirl said...

I could use something to ward off bad spirits! Love this tradition. :)

Louis la Vache said...

hee hee...
The Year of the Rabbit. Time to hop to it!

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Kaori, thank you for your visit and comment! I am enjoying my visit here on your photo blog and learning a lot too.

Becky said...

What a cool idea! Do you think they would eat the orange that was used to fend off evil spirits?

Unknown said...

Mmm, wouldn't the orange be still good enough to be eaten? It's very colourful.

Anonymous said...

May it be kind and nice for you all.

A nice tradition indeed; melting into the present future. Please have a wonderful Tuesday.

daily athens

Michael Valčić said...

Very interesting! Is there a difference between the ones ordered online and the ones from a shrine?

Great shots!

Leif Hagen said...

Very fun, lovely New Years decoration! So, 2011 is the year of the rabbit - I didn't know!
Domo arigato

T. Becque said...

Great post Kaori, you taught me something to day!

Babzy.B said...

very nice deco !

Kaori said...

Thank you for the comments, everyone! The year of the rabbit is supposedly going to jump start our economic recovery! Looking forward to that...haha.


Dindin, I'm actually a christian so we don't do this at our house...but I still like looking at other people's decorations :-)

Becky, Evelyn, it's pretty cold outside so I'm pretty sure the orange wouldn't go bad...but then, it is out there for a whole week before they take it down. hmm ;-D

Michael, I'd think that the ones bought at shrines are more authentic...that is where the gods are. But I think they have some on online shops because there are a lot of old people in Japan who would rather have it delivered :-)

Francisca said...

That shime-kazari is so tastefully done. Beats the red posters you see all over China. Mandarin oranges are so cheap tihs season, it wouldn't be necessary to share on with the gods. :-D

4rx coupon codes said...

In some way japanese people are very nice and funny, if you watch japanese stuff you will notice about this, thanks

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