Dondo-yaki is a fire festival held around mid January in many places throughout Japan, where people bring in pine decorations, shimenawa ropes, and writings made during the New Year and burn them. It also has the meaning of sending off the New Year's God, who came to the house using the New Year's decorations as a landmark, with the smoke of burning the New Year's decorations. By burning lucky charms, you pray for a rich harvest, prosperous business, safety for your family, and good health.
Photo taken at Yota Elementary school in Yanai, Yamaguchi ken. (January 2024)
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