🎍 Pine Decoration

Description 🎍

This emoji depicts a kadomatsu (門松, literally "entrance pine"), a traditional Japanese New Year decoration made from pine branches, bamboo, and sometimes plum branches, tied with straw rope (shimenawa). It's not just a "potted plant." It's a powerful cultural marker that instantly identifies the Japanese New Year and all the traditions associated with it. Its use outside of this context is extremely rare. 🎍 An emoji for those who want to show their knowledge of Japanese culture or congratulate someone on the arrival of a real Eastern holiday.

Each element in the composition has a deep meaning:

• Pine (Matsu) : Symbolizes longevity and endurance because it is an evergreen tree.
• Bamboo (take) : Represents uprightness, steadfastness and rapid growth (wishing prosperity).
• Rope (shimenawa) : Marks a sacred boundary, inviting deities and driving away evil spirits.

🎍 Meaning

🎍 Symbolizes the arrival of the New Year according to the lunar calendar (the most important holiday in Japan).

🎍 Inviting the deity of the year (Toshigami-sama) into the home to grant good luck, health and prosperity for the next 12 months.

🎍 Longevity (pine), endurance and growth (bamboo), nobility (plum).

When is it used?

1. Japanese New Year greeting: Sent in December-January with the words "Happy New Year!" (Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu!).
2. Messages about preparations for the holiday: “Today I saw how they were installing 🎍 at the entrance to the restaurant.”
3. In culture, anime and manga: A must-have attribute of the New Year theme. Discussion of New Year episodes in anime (for example, Sailor Moon, Tokyo Ghoul, Evangelion have scenes with kadomatsu).
4. As a symbol of Japan: In the context of a story about Japanese traditions and culture.
5. Chinese New Year Greetings (sometimes): Although this is a Japanese symbol, due to its visual similarity to bamboo ornaments, it can also be used to greet the Lunar New Year in general.
6. On cards (nengajo): Traditional Japanese New Year cards almost always contain an image of kadomatsu.
7. In real-time video games (such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons), kadomatsu appear as a seasonal item in December-January.

Origin and interesting facts

• Introduced in Unicode 6.0 (2010) under the name "Pine Decoration".
• The history of kadomatsu spans over 600 years. The tradition began in the Muromachi period (1336–1573) and became popular in the Edo period (1603–1868).
• There are strict rules for installation: Kadomatsu are placed at the entrance to the house (on both sides of the door) between December 13 and 30. They are usually removed between January 7 and 15 (dates may vary slightly in different regions). It is considered very disrespectful and unlucky to do it earlier or later.
• In modern Japan, due to lack of space in cities, miniature or even artificial kadomatsu are now often installed.

Important differences 🎍 vs 🎋 vs 🎄

🎍 Kadomatsu is a New Year's composition made of pine and bamboo. Season - winter.

🎋 Tanabata is a single bamboo decorated with paper strips called tanzaku. Season: summer (July 7th holiday).

🎄 The Christmas tree is a Western symbol of Christmas (December 25) and New Year on January 1.