Setsubun - February 3rd
Setsubun is celebrated annually on February 3rd. It celebrates the new year of the Lunar Calendar. It is not recognised as a National Holiday. It has its origin in Tsuina, a Chinese custom introduced to Japan in the eighth century. It involves a special ritual called mamemaki (literally 'bean scattering'). Mamemaki is a ritual to drive away any disease-bringing spirits of the coming year. It is also used to cleanse away the evil spirits of the former year. Roasted soybeans are scattered around the outside of the doorway while shouting 'Oni wa soto!' (Demons get out!). They are also scattered around the inside the doorway while shouting 'Fuku wa uchi!' (Good luck, come in!). A male family member will often dress as an oni. The rest of the family will then throw beans at him and chase him away. Some families also pick up the beans and eat them. Only as many as their ages though, to celebrate every Setsubun since their birth.
by Kismet Setsubun is a Japanese festival held on the 3rd of February, the day before the start spring. Setsubun is usually held at temples, shrines and peoples home. At Setsubun, a ritual called "Mame Maki" is performed to drive out demons and invite good spirits that bring good wealth, health and happiness. "Mame Maki" means bean throwing. Someone in a household, usually the father, will dress up as Oni (a ogre or demon) and will have roasted beans thrown at them or out the door. The people throwing the beans shout "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi" meaning "demons out happiness in". After "Mame Maki", the beans are picked up. It's believed if you eat the amount of beans equal to your age you will have a year of good health and happiness.
The roasted soy beans are called "Fuku Mame" meaning fortune beans. Japanese believe that the beans can scare away evil spirits and demons and invite good spirits into the temple, shrine or home. Onis are demons or ogres. They're shown as hideous creatures that are usually red or blue in colour, with two horns, fangs and often carry a club. Onis are believed to be scared of roasted beans. On Setsubun, in the household often fathers or the eldest male born with the same zodiac animal as that year will dress up as Oni and have beans thrown at them. by Keira |
Setsubun is a Japanese festival held on the 3rd or 4th of February on the Lunar Calender. It is always on the last day before spring. The festival is significant because it is the Japanese people performing rituals to chase away evil spirits. The festival has been around 800 years and back when it started, they threw sardine heads at the Oni’s (or demons). Now they use roasted beans. Traditionally the eldest son throws the beans. When they are throwing the beans the yell “oni-wa-soto” which means get out demons. They then shout “fuku-wa-uchi” which means come in happiness. The beans they throw are called fuku mame (fortune beans). They also eat fortune sushi rolls called eho-maki. Around Japan, ceremonies are held at temples and shrines They also do ceremonies at home. After the ceremony, you eat as many beans as your age. The schools get into the sprit too and make oni masks. People dress up as oni’s and then the children throw the beans at them.
by Ebony Setsubun is an annual festival celebrated on the third of February in Japan. Prior to this day, houses are cleaned to destroy the evil spirits which are believed to lurk within houses. After this part of the process, a branch is placed outside of the houses and hung over the branches are a sardine head and an onion or a garlic glove. Numerous ceremonies are held at different temples to ward off the evil spirit of Oni. Beans are thrown during the ceremony; which represent good luck in the Japanese culture.
by Ruby |