Dondo-yaki (New Year Bonfire) Coloring Pages

A fire event to burn New Year decorations and say goodbye to the gods Dondo-yaki (New Year Bonfire) is a traditional Japanese event held at the end of the New Year season. People build a big tower made of bamboo, straw, and wood in rice fields or open grounds, and burn it. People believe this big fire helps send off the Toshigami (New Year gods) who visited your home, letting them ride the smoke back up to the mountains.

Things burned at Dondo-yaki (New Year Bonfire) and what they mean

People put many good wishes into the Dondo-yaki (New Year Bonfire) fire.

• New Year decorations: People bring pine decorations, sacred rope wreaths, and Kakizome (first calligraphy) to burn them.

• Daruma dolls: Old Daruma dolls that helped make your wishes come true are also burned in this fire.

• Good health and safety: People say that if you eat mochi or dango cooked over the Dondo-yaki (New Year Bonfire) fire, you will stay healthy and strong all year without getting sick.

• Kakizome (First calligraphy): People believe that if your burned calligraphy paper dances high up into the sky from the fire's heat, your handwriting will get much better.

When Dondo-yaki (New Year Bonfire) takes place

• Around January 15th: It is usually held around January 15th, a day called Koshogatsu (Little New Year).

• Different names: Different regions have different names for it. Some places call it Sagicho, Onibi-taki, or Donto-yaki.

Here are some tips to show the big power of Dondo-yaki (New Year Bonfire) and the warmth of winter!

Color the lively fire with strong power

• Fire colors: The center of the fire is the hottest. Try coloring it white or yellow. Layer orange and red as you move outward. Color with sharp, jagged shapes to make it look like wild flames!

• Smoke tips: Color the smoke rising into the sky with a soft light gray.

Color the decorated Daruma dolls and bamboo

• Red Daruma dolls: Color the Daruma dolls inside the tower with a deep red. Make it bright so it stands out next to the fire. It will look super cool!

• Bamboo textures: For the bamboo at the base, use green for parts not yet burned. Use brown or black where the fire touches it. This makes it look real!

Winter scenery and gathered people

• Warm coat colors: Color the coats and hats of the gathered people. Use winter colors like blue, brown, or purple.

• Snowy mountains: If there are mountains in the back, leave the tops white. Color the bottom part light blue. That makes them look like snowy winter mountains!

Gods Return Home on the Smoke

The "Toshigami" gods who stayed at your house during the New Year are said to fly back up to the sky on the smoke of Dondo-yaki (New Year Bonfire). Burning Kadomatsu and Shimekazari decorations is a way to say goodbye and make sure the gods return home safely.

Eat Toasted Rice Cakes to Stay Healthy!

People sometimes toast dango rice cakes (Mayudama) on tree branches using the Dondo-yaki (New Year Bonfire) fire to eat them. It is said that eating these rice cakes keeps you healthy and protects you from catching a cold all year long. Some people also believe they keep you from getting cavities!

Is It Amazing if Kakizome Flies High?

Sometimes, people also burn the "Kakizome" (first calligraphy of the year) that you wrote at school. If the burning paper soars high up into the sky on the smoke, people say you will get better at writing! If you burn yours, cheer it on so it flies high!

It Has Many Different Names

Besides the name "Dondo-yaki (New Year Bonfire)", it is called by many different names depending on the area, like "Sagicho," "Tondo-yaki," "Onibi-daki," and "Saino-kami." What do people call it where you live?