Introduction Of A Japanese Traditional Seasonal Event Called "Setsubun"

Tomorrow, February 3rd is called "Setsubun" day in Japan. “Setubun” directly means “The Boundary of Season”. With Japanese traditional season calendar called “Nijushi-sekki (24 seasons in a year)”, February 4th is the day of “Risshun”, which means the beginning of spring. Thus, February 3rd is the last day of winter.

On Setsubun day, there are traditional customs of people removing evil things from their houses and welcoming good luck. For the ritual to expel ogres and to invite good luck, people spread roasted soy beans inside and outside of their houses, because ancient people believed soy beans have some spiritual power.

People throw soy beans inside of their houses to invite good luck as they say “Fuku wa uchi! (Good luck comes inside!), and outside of their houses to expel ogres as they say “Oni wa soto! (Ogres go outside!). Also some people put holly branches on their front porch, too, because it has been said that ogres hate holly leaves.

Some of roasted soy bean packages for Setsubun contain a mask of ogre as shown in the upper photo above. As a part of the traditional custom of throwing soy beans, one of the family members plays a role of ogre wearing the mask, and other family members throw soy beans to the ogre-person to expel him. Families with little kids especially enjoy this simulated expelling activity.

However, nowadays some people feel clean up work after the activity is troublesome and it's a waste of food. Then as you can see in the lower photo above, supermarkets started to sell peanuts with shell for Setsubun Day because it's big enough to collect completely to clean up rooms, moreover the thrown peanuts are still edible after they collected them from the floors. Sometimes practicality would be more important over traditional ways.

After the activity of throwing beans or nuts, people eat the same number of roasted soy beans as their own age, as a traditional custom for Setsubun to keep a good health for the year. 

Well, this one would be easier for everybody to practice. So how about trying it tomorrow?