2014/01/30

Setsubun -Bean Throwing Day-

Setsubun (bean-throwing festival) is the day before the beginning of Spring in Japan, falling on February 3 this year. It used to be thought as New Year’s Eve according to Japanese traditional calendar and the very important day to cleanse away all the evil of the former year and bring fortune spirits into the year to come.

One of the special ritual is “mamemaki (lit: bean-throwing)”. Since olden times, the beans have been thought to have a miraculous power to expel eveil spirits. Therefore, roasted soybeans are thrown out the door in order to drive away evil spirits and in to bring in fortune while we say “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! (Demons out! Luck in!)”.

Also, we eat the same number of roasted soybeans as that of the age. (plus one more to bring luck in for the year to come in some areas) in hope of our good health. It means if you are 30 years old, you are supposed to eat 30 or 31 beans. Well....., in my case, how many beans do I have to eat??? I like beans, but maybe too many to eat, ha, ha.




Roasted beans and evil's mask are shown at the shop around this season -by Wikipedia-

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