Japanese New Year Decoration, Shimekazari

According to Shinto tradition the Toshigami, the gods of the incoming year, must be welcomed with auspicious decorations to bring good luck and prosperity in the new year.

The decoration of the house must be done after December 13th, day known as Shogatsu kotohajime - "beginning of the New Year" and before December 28th. The next day, December 29, is considered unlucky because the word for number 9 (ku) also means suffering and 29 could mean double suffering - therefore decorating in this day is taboo. Also setting up decorations on 31 is considered disrespectful, because they would be displayed only for a day...

The first decoration is Shimekazari, a rice straw rope adorned with shide and auspicious objects, which is put above the entrance door to purify the house, so the Toshigami would come to a purified place.