Japanese Traditional Decoration For New Year's Celebration

New Year's Celebration is one of the biggest seasonal events for Japanese people. Traditionally people decorate entrances of their houses and shops for "The God of the Year" because "The God of the Year" is a god who will bring a good harvest to each family. In other words, Japanese invite a god of harvest every New Year. 

The decorations at entrances of shops and houses in the photos on the left hand side are the guides to invite "The God of the Year". People prepare decorations of rice cakes at home for the offerings as in the center photo below which shows a rice cake with a snowman shape called "Kagami-mochi" and a little monkey on the top. The reason of the monkey decoration on top of the offering is that 2016 is a Year of Monkey from the twelve animal cycle of Chinese zodiac, but other decorations can be also used.

Thus at the end of December each year, shops sell these decorations as in the photos on the right hand side. Today is December 31st, but actually people prepare these decorations a little earlier, around 28th, because the 31st would be too late to invite "The God of the Year".

I also put the New Year decorations at home a couple of days ago and I wish coming 2016 a good year for everybody! 
Thank you for reading my post this year!!