Tondo Matsuri
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The Tondo Festival occurs in early January
around Koshogatsu, the lunar new year. For the New Year most homes
and businesses hang a Shimekazari above the door. Shimekazari
are sacred ropes braided from rice straw, and to them are attached
various good luck charms, most commonly an orange. The shimekazari
wards off evil spirits and invites the Kami to enter.
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| At Tondo, a huge bonfire is
made and into it are placed the shimekazari and other new year ornaments.
The fire is lit by someone born in the same animal year, at this
Tondo it was a 12 year old boy, and as the flames and smoke rise
in the sky the people pray for health and blessing for the coming
year. As the fire dies down a little, children who have been practising
their calligraphy for the new year place examples onto the fire.
If they rise into the air with the heat, it indicates success for
that child for the new year. |
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| While all this is going on,
the people are served a variety of foods including Tonjiru, a really
tasty stew made from pork, taro, and daikon, as well as Mochi, a
glutenous rice cake that is a traditional new year food. Lengths
of green bamboo are filled with sake and placed in the coals to
warm, and then served to everyone. |
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