This is a shimenawa. Shimenawa are made of rice straw rope and placed over the doors of nearly all Japanese homes and businesses around New Year's. It is said that these hangings ward off the evil spirits as you welcome the new year. They come in many shapes and sizes, with many different wishes for the new year. Mine simply says happy new year, so I can use it again back in the states. Traditionally, these hangings are burned on January 7th, similar to epiphany, and mochi is cooked over the fire to ensure good health throughout the year.
1 comment:
please get a firm understanding of how these are made and the design principles and the materials used. I would love to have one made by you next year--and so would every other member of your family! It is just beautiful and quite unusual. Grammie
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