Lucky Charms

Good luck charms are an integral part of Japanese culture. For New Years, arrangements made from bamboo shafts surrounded by pine branches and then wrapped in straw are placed by doorways of stores and houses.

The ones in the pics are quite large and elaborate and seen in front of businesses. For houses they are no bigger than little house plants.

Me? I have a good luck charm too. It was given to me as a gift. It's for happiness and bonding with friends and family. I was tempted to keep it in the house and keep the happiness to myself. Instead I have it hung on my door... at least for now.

I know I can probably make my own luck but why risk it?