AQUA短期留学センター

日本はただいま年末、そして、もうすぐお正月を迎えます。

お正月を迎える前に、大掃除をしたり、お正月の飾りを準備したりしなければなりません。　お正月の飾りといえば・・・しめ縄です。

しめ縄はあまり作ることはありませんが、今回「しめ縄作り」を教えてもらいに「かわしり工芸会館」へ行ってきました～！

「紙すき体験」に続き、大変な作業でしたが、日本の習わしを知る貴重な体験となりました。

Shimenawa (標縄・注連縄・七五三縄, literally "enclosing rope") are lengths of laid rice straw rope used for ritual purification in the Shinto religion. They can vary in diameter from a few centimetres to several metres, and are often seen festooned with shide. A space bound by shimenawa often indicates a sacred or pure space, such as that of a Shinto shrine.

Shimenawa are believed to act as a ward against evil spirits and are often set up at a ground-breaking ceremony before construction begins on a new building. They are often found at Shinto shrines, torii gates, and sacred landmarks. 

( wikipediaより引用　）