Cultures

The New Year’s Fire Ritual

Have you gotten out of the New Year’s mood yet? On January 15, there was an event that concludes the New Year period from the end of the year to today in Japan. It was a fire ritual called “Dondoyaki.”

Dondoyaki is an event in which New Year’s decorations and last year’s good luck charms that had been displayed at home until today are brought to a shrine to be burned. The smoke from burning the New Year’s decorations send off the deity of good fortune, who came to the house at year-end by the decorations as the sign. We burn lucky charms to pray for a good harvest, prosperous business, family safety, and good health.

Strictly speaking, only families who financially support the shrine through donations and charity are eligible to participate. They are called “Danka.” They formally participate in a prayer ceremony conducted by the Shinto priest. People, like me, who live in the neighborhood and are not normally associated with the shrine, can only watch the ritual from afar.

The New Year’s fire ritual is widely practiced not only in Japan but also in Asia and Europe. It may be common throughout the world to pray for health and happiness in the new year over a bonfire.

Related Posts
Last day of the year. What will you do today?
90% of Japanese do on New Year’s Day

The 18-year-old students will take the exam for two days.Prev

28 years ago, an earthquake struck Japan.Next

Related post

  1. Cultures

    July 7, What Do You Do in Your Country?

    In Asian countries, it is apparently common to hold some kind of festival on July 7. In Japan, this day is called "Tanabata". Derived from Chinese myt…

  2. Cultures

    Chinowa Kuguri: The Ritual to Pray for the Remaining Half Year to Be Safe

    On June 30, halfway through the year, a large hoop ornament is set up at the shrine. It is a hoop covered with rice leaves and stalks and is called a …

  3. Cultures

    Two Legendary Shogi Players Are in Confrontation!

    The famous Japanese professional shogi players are in the midst of a seven-game championship. Their names are Yoshiharu Habu and Sota Fujii.At the a…

  4. Cultures

    New Japanese banknotes in 2024

    The Bank of Japan showed the press the new bills it plans to print next year on April 14.The Bank of Japan will renew its banknotes in 2024, the fir…

  5. Cultures

    Last day of the year. What will you do today?

    Only one more day left in this year! What are you doing in the last day?In Japan, people prepared to welcome a Deity into their homes from around De…

  6. Cultures

    Japanese Elections

    Today, people all over the country are going to the polls to vote. These are elections to determine the councilors and mayors of the areas where voter…

PAGE TOP