生なり木き責ぜめ

noun

traditional fruit-tree beating ceremony

A folk ritual performed during Koshōgatsu (Little New Year). One person beats a fruit tree, typically a persimmon, with a pole and threatens to cut it down if it doesn't bear fruit, while another person promises on behalf of the tree that it will produce a good harvest.

See also: 小正月 · 祝い棒

• 小こ正しょう月がつには、生なり木き責ぜめという行ぎょう事じが行おこなわれる地ち域いきがあります。

  In some regions, a ceremony called narikizeme is held during Little New Year.

• 生なり木き責ぜめでは、柿かきの木きを棒ぼうで叩たたきながら「実みがならなければ切きるぞ」と言いいます。

  In narikizeme, they hit a persimmon tree with a pole and say, 'If you don't bear fruit, we'll cut you down.'