In Japan, the days leading up to the New Year are not about rushing forward — they are about preparing the threshold.

One of the most recognizable signs of this preparation is kadomatsu, a traditional decoration placed at the entrance of homes and buildings toward the end of December. Made from pine, bamboo, and sometimes plum branches, kadomatsu quietly marks a transition: from one year to the next.

Rather than decoration in the Western sense, kadomatsu serves a symbolic role. It is placed to welcome the spirit of the New Year, inviting good fortune, health, and renewal into the home.

When Kadomatsu Are Placed

Traditionally, kadomatsu are set out after December 13, when households begin preparing for the New Year. Among these days, December 28 is considered especially auspicious — a day associated with openness and expansion.

Certain days are avoided:

• December 29, due to its unlucky associations
• December 31, as last-minute preparations are thought to be disrespectful

Kadomatsu remain in place until early January, during a period known as matsu no uchi, when the New Year is welcomed and settled.

More Than Decoration

What makes kadomatsu meaningful is not how elaborate they are, but the intention behind them.

They represent:

• readiness rather than perfection
• welcome rather than display
• preparation of both space and mindset

For many families, placing kadomatsu is part of a broader rhythm that includes cleaning, tidying, and letting go of what no longer serves — not as obligation, but as quiet care.

A Moment to Pause

In modern life, this tradition can easily be overlooked. But its meaning still resonates: before stepping into what’s next, we pause. We prepare. We acknowledge the passing year.

Kadomatsu remind us that transitions deserve attention — and that beginnings are shaped by how we arrive at them.

As the year comes to a close, this tradition offers a simple reminder:
new beginnings are welcomed, not rushed.