Dondo yaki (どんど焼き) is held around the 15th of January ( which might I add used to be the day that the Coming of Age ceremony was held on until the year 2000)and is typically on a Sunday . On this day people bring their New Years decorations such as their shimekazari to shrines to have them burned. At this time they will also burn any of the bad fortunes that are tied around the temple. Symbolically this is seen as breaking with the past and progressing with the new year. It is also seen to bring luck in the new year, as well as to send off toshigami. Toshigami are thought to be deities related to bringing in the new year or also spirits of ancestors passed. Some people have alters in their home where the toshigami reside until the New Year. For the remainder of the year they will adorn the alter with fresh fruits and such as presents for the toshigami.
Often when the burning is in process mochi is given out like marshmellows for roasting. This idea behind this is to sweeten your mouth so that you only say sweet and nice things in the new year.
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