Shime kazari are the New Year’s decorations you find hanging on front doors and gates during the first three to fifteen days of the New Year. Traditionally made with twisted rice straw, they are festooned with a daidai (bitter orange), fern fronds and gohei or shide (zigzag strips of white paper), the ornaments serve to welcome Toshigami-sama, the deity who brings a bountiful harvest and blessings for the new year.

I used to think that shime kazari were the same everywhere, but to my surprise--I really should be surprised anymore at this point--they vary from region to region, just like language.