Dondo-yaki is a local event in which Matsukazari(the pine decorations) and Shimenawa that were used to decorate in Matsunouchi(the first seven days of the New Year), the new year’s calligraphy, and the amulets given last year are brought to shrines, community plazas, fields, etc. and burned.  Dondo-yaki was originally held on January 15th, but recently it has become more common to hold it on Coming-of-Age Day, Saturdays and Sundays before and after it, the last day of Matsunouchi, and Setsubun.  Dondo-yaki has long been said to have originated as a Heian period imperial court event called ‘Sagicho’ held on the night of January 15th. However, its origins are even older, and it is said that it began more than 1,600 years ago in the Kofun period, during the Little New Year’s fire festival called “Oniyo.”  Dondo-yaki is held to pray for a bountiful harvest, prosperous business, family safety, and sound health for this year.

どんど焼きとは、松の内まで飾っていた松飾りやしめ縄、お正月にしたためた書き初め、昨年に授与したお守りなどを、神社や地域の広場・畑などに持ち寄って燃やす地域の行事のことです。どんど焼きは元々1月15日に行われるのが通例でしたが、最近は成人の日やその前後の土日、松の内の最終日、節分などにどんど焼きが開催されることが多くなりました。どんど焼きの起こりは、長く、平安時代の宮中行事で、1月15日の夜に行われる「左義長」と言われてきましたが、もっと古く、1600年以上前の古墳時代の小正月火祭り行事「鬼夜(おによ)」からだと言われています。どんど焼きは、この１年の五穀豊穣、商売繁盛、家内安全、無病息災を願って行われます。