The purpose of Yukitsuri or Yuki-tsuri is to protect trees from snow damage. In areas that get lots of heavy, wet snow, such structures are needed to support tree branches so they don’t break when weighed down with snow. During the winter months, many of these trees in Japanese gardens sprout strange conical structures that rise above the trees like a crown. They are called Yukitsuri or “snow suspenders”. The most common technique of preparing yuki-tsuri is by putting up bamboo poles near the trunk of the tree, then extending ropes from the top of the pole to be attached to the branches. The ropes prevent the branches from sagging under the weight of the snow on top. Occasionally the very top is adorned with a decoration. The construction of yuki-tsuri is usually done in December, and though it may look somewhat like a “Christmas decoration” it has nothing to do with Christmas though the practice occurs in December.
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