Dondo Yaki

三連休の中日の今日は、我家から歩いて15分程の多摩川河川敷で毎年行われる「どんど焼き」へ。
最初は皆近くで見たいがために、小さな人の輪も、
一旦点火されるとその炎の勢いと熱さに驚き、あっという間に大きく広がる。

お神酒も甘酒もいただいて良い一年の始まり。

これが終わるといよいよ、お正月気分とも本格的にお別れ。

S and I went to the Dondo Yaki ceremony near our place this morning.
Dondo Yaki is a traditional fire ceremony where people gather at the local shrine or park to burn their New Year decorations.

In the last couple of pictures, people look like they are fishing but they are cooking mochi (rice cake) over the fire. 

I guess now is the time to say good bye to our winter holiday mode after this ceremony.