KADOMATSU

Kadomatsu are put both sides of the gate	Very tall kadomatsu at Gokoku-Jinja

simplified kadomatsu

Kadomatsu are the pine branches which decorated in front of the gate posts with plum, bamboo
and other lucky plants at New Year's.
Originally, they were put for welcome the New Year's god called Toshigami-sama (歳神様).
However, these days they are just seen as decorations.

Since ancient times, the pine tree has been revered as a symbol of longevity,
because it's evergreen and has vital energies.
In old time, people went to the mountains to get pines for kadomatsu, and this habbit, called matsumukae,
had been done on December 13.
The period during which they are displayed is called matsunouchi (松の内）,
and the day they are taken down, matsuake.
That's usually January 15th , ko-shogatsu.
On that day, they are burned. We call this event dondo-yaki or sagicho.
Here is photos of Sagicho held in Minami-Chita-cho.