しめ飾(かざ)り

しめかざり

noun

New Year's rope decoration

1. New Year's rope decoration; sacred straw festoon for New Year's

A decorative ornament made from twisted straw rope, hung on doors or gates during the New Year period to welcome the year's deity and ward off evil spirits.

玄関(げんかん)にしめ飾(かざ)りを飾(かざ)る。

To hang a New Year's rope decoration on the front door.

年末(ねんまつ)になるとスーパーでしめ飾(かざ)りが売(う)られる。

At the end of the year, New Year decorations are sold at supermarkets.

松(まつ)の内(うち)が過(す)ぎたら、しめ飾(かざ)りを外(はず)して神社(じんじゃ)のどんど焼(や)きで燃(も)やしてもらう。

After the New Year's pine period is over, we take down the rope decorations and have them burned at the shrine's bonfire ceremony.

A traditional Japanese New Year decoration derived from 注連縄(しめなわ) (sacred straw rope). Typically displayed from around December 28 until January 7 (or January 15 in some regions). It is believed to mark a purified space for the 年神(としがみ) (deity of the new year) to enter.

Common collocations

しめ飾(かざ)りを飾(かざ)る: to put up a New Year decoration
しめ飾(かざ)りを外(はず)す: to take down a New Year decoration
玄関(げんかん)のしめ飾(かざ)り: door decoration for New Year

Cultural note

It is considered bad luck to put up しめ飾(かざ)り on December 29 (二重苦(にじゅうく), "double suffering") or December 31 (一夜飾(いちやかざ)り, "overnight decoration," seen as disrespectful). After the New Year period, decorations are traditionally burned in a ceremony called どんど焼(や)き.

Related words

注連縄(しめなわ): sacred straw rope — the base form, used year-round at shrines
門松(かどまつ): pine decoration — another traditional New Year decoration placed at gates
鏡餅(かがみもち): mirror rice cake — a New Year offering placed indoors

Related Words

Related: 注連縄(しめなわ) (sacred straw rope)

Related: 門松(かどまつ) (pine decoration)

Related: 鏡餅(かがみもち) (mirror rice cake)

general

Added 2026.3.31 23:12 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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