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Setsubun |
After throwing the beans, family members would then pick them up. Even
now, it is believed that eating the same number of beans as your age
brings good fortune for the coming year. In Kansai (Western Japan), there
is the custom of eating "Ehomaki" (Rolled sushi), whilst facing the gate
through which the god of the New Year is felt to enter, and praying for
one's dreams to come true.Recently, it is not so common for ordinary homes to celebrate Setsubun, especially in built up city areas. However, Setsubun has become a popular event at shrines and temples. We, Hyotan editors, visited Suwa Shrine built 750 years ago. There were quite a number of local community small children with their mothers and grandparents keeping warm around a bonfire of big logs, while waiting for the Mamemaki to start. Around 3pm, 12 men clad in the "Kamishimo" (warrior's ceremonial dress) appeared on the platform, shouted "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!", and threw beans, snacks and rice crackers in small bags at the crowd assembled there. There was a second bean throwing at 6pm so that more people could take part in the event. > Every year Setsubun is celebrated all over Japan on February 3rd. Have you heard the expression "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" (Out with the devil! In with good luck!) emanating from the windows of your neighbors' houses or have you seen celebrities like Sumo wrestling champions or movie stars throwing beans to those visiting shrines or temples? But, how did this all start? Setsubun literally means the division of the seasons and used to take place between each of the four seasons. However, the spring one, which heralded the beginning of new life, was considered to be the start of the new year. Setsubun, which was the day before Risshun (the first day of spring) took on the role of commemorating the passing of the old year and the seeing of the new year (Toshi Koshi). In the old days, people believed that evil or disaster might sneak into the house at such a turn of the seasons. Some people stayed inside quietly waiting for the evil to pass, while others decorated their houses with sardine heads and holly leaves as a charm to ward off evil. When there was a plague raging around the country in 706, an event took place in the Imperial Palace in which people dressed up as devils and were chased out of the four gates of the palace. This is believed to have been the beginning of the event known as "Mamemaki" (bean throwing). Later, around the 12th and 13th centuries, this became established as a traditional ritual in shrines and temples, and by the 17th century, it was being carried out by ordinary people in their homes. However, the method of celebration changes according to the household or the region. As some shrines had "Devils" as guardians, the words of the "mamemaki" had to change to "Fuku wa uchi! Kami wa uchi!" (In with good luck, in with God!). |
After throwing the beans, family members would then pick them up. Even
now, it is believed that eating the same number of beans as your age
brings good fortune for the coming year. In Kansai (Western Japan), there
is the custom of eating "Ehomaki" (Rolled sushi), whilst facing the gate
through which the god of the New Year is felt to enter, and praying for
one's dreams to come true.Recently, it is not so common for ordinary homes to celebrate Setsubun, especially in built up city areas. However, Setsubun has become a popular event at shrines and temples. We, Hyotan editors, visited Suwa Shrine built 750 years ago. There were quite a number of local community small children with their mothers and grandparents keeping warm around a bonfire of big logs, while waiting for the Mamemaki to start. Around 3pm, 12 men clad in the "Kamishimo" (warrior's ceremonial dress) appeared on the platform, shouted "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!", and threw beans, snacks and rice crackers in small bags at the crowd assembled there. There was a second bean throwing at 6pm so that more people could take part in the event. After throwing the beans, family members would then pick them up. Even now, it is believed that eating the same number of beans as your age brings good fortune for the coming year. In Kansai (Western Japan), there is the custom of eating "Ehomaki" (Rolled sushi), whilst facing the gate through which the god of the New Year is felt to enter, and praying for one's dreams to come true. Recently, it is not so common for ordinary homes to celebrate Setsubun, especially in built up city areas. However, Setsubun has become a popular event at shrines and temples. We, Hyotan editors, visited Suwa Shrine built 750 years ago. There were quite a number of local community small children with their mothers and grandparents keeping warm around a bonfire of big logs, while waiting for the Mamemaki to start. Around 3pm, 12 men clad in the "Kamishimo" (warrior's ceremonial dress) appeared on the platform, shouted "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!", and threw beans, snacks and rice crackers in small bags at the crowd assembled there. There was a second bean throwing at 6pm so that more people could take part in the event.  >> After throwing the beans, family members would then pick them up. Even now, it is believed that eating the same number of beans as your age brings good fortune for the coming year. In Kansai (Western Japan), there is the custom of eating "Ehomaki" (Rolled sushi), whilst facing the gate through which the god of the New Year is felt to enter, and praying for one's dreams to come true. Recently, it is not so common for ordinary homes to celebrate Setsubun, especially in built up city areas. However, Setsubun has become a popular event at shrines and temples. We, Hyotan editors, visited Suwa Shrine built 750 years ago. There were quite a number of local community small children with their mothers and grandparents keeping warm around a bonfire of big logs, while waiting for the Mamemaki to start. Around 3pm, 12 men clad in the "Kamishimo" (warrior's ceremonial dress) appeared on the platform, shouted "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!", and threw beans, snacks and rice crackers in small bags at the crowd assembled there. There was a second bean throwing at 6pm so that more people could take part in the event. |