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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.
玄関にしめ飾りを飾る。
To hang a New Year's rope decoration on the front door.
年末になるとスーパーでしめ飾りが売られる。
At the end of the year, New Year decorations are sold at supermarkets.
松の内が過ぎたら、しめ飾りを外して神社のどんど焼きで燃やしてもらう。
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 (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 (deity of the new year) to enter.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- しめ飾りを飾る: to put up a New Year decoration
- しめ飾りを外す: to take down a New Year decoration
- 玄関のしめ飾り: door decoration for New Year
CULTURAL NOTES:
It is considered bad luck to put up しめ飾り on December 29 (二重苦, "double suffering") or December 31 (一夜飾り, "overnight decoration," seen as disrespectful). After the New Year period, decorations are traditionally burned in a ceremony called どんど焼き.
RELATED TERMS:
- 注連縄: sacred straw rope — the base form, used year-round at shrines
- 門松: pine decoration — another traditional New Year decoration placed at gates
- 鏡餅: mirror rice cake — a New Year offering placed indoors