French version
Kadomatsu門松alternative words: Gate pine keywords: thing related topics: New year , Heian period related web sites: http://www.ic-net.or.jp/home/yaguchi/houwa/simekazari.htm , http://www.fits.co.jp/~zenshoji/shougatu.htm explanation: New year decoration put at the entry of each house to welcome "toshigami" (year's god) who comes to protect the family. Usually it is arranged in pairs (left and right) and composed of evergreen trees such as pine tree, bamboo and sakaki (low evergreen tree of the tea family). The height of kadomatsu is about 1m high and is kept during the first 7 days of a new year, corresponding to "matsu no uchi" i.e. "inside pine". The rite of "kadomatsu" had been already practiced in Heian period. | |