| 31 December - preparing for the New Year | |
 You normally place New Year's decoration made with bamboo, pine branches & winter flowers on either side of your front gate or door. However, for those without enough space, there are easy printed versions you can stick on your door :-) |
 And a straw festoon hanging above the front door. The tangerine is real, the lobster isn't. (I suppose the remains of some sticky tape above it on the door frame is from the one last year...) |
 New Year's sweets for the Buddhist alter (ie. for the deceased family members and ancestors. We don't have a shinto alter in this house.) |
 ...and New Year's flowers too... |
 ... and New Year's cakes for the living. |
 Bunnies get a shampoo before the end of the year. |
| To Part Two | |