Setsubun is the day preceding the first day of spring according to the old Japanese calendar. On the day of Setsubun which is 3rd of February, there is a particular custom we do in Japan. My kids are brought up in Malta so they never experienced this custom but this year, thanks to my Japanese friend, they had a lot of fun doing this custom!
While it has been marked in many ways across the centuries, nowadays the most common Setsubun ritual is mamemaki (bean-throwing), in which people throw roasted soy beans from their homes and temples and shrines throughout the country while shouting, “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi!” (Demons out, good luck in!). It is believed this act will ward off evil spirits for the coming year. Eating the number of soy beans corresponding to your age is considered especially lucky.
When I was a child, teachers at the kindergarten put on a mask of demons and we used to chase them while throwing at the soybeans at the teachers and shouting ‘Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi’!
My friend prepared a drawing of a demon (as picture below) and stuck to the window. She prepared peanuts and they were throwing the peanuts at the drawing since we cannot really throw them outside in Malta! It was so funny and my kids still tell me that it was a lot of fun!
It is also custom in the Kansai region to eat an uncut Makizushi roll and I miss this so much! This special sushi roll is made with seven fillings corresponding to the Seven Deities of Good Fortune called Shichifukujin. The ingredients used represent good health, happiness and prosperity, while rolling them up is also said to be lucky. This Makizushi roll should not be cut into bite-size pieces as this would mean cutting your good fortune. For your wish to come true, it should be eaten in its entirety in silence while facing the good fortune direction of the year. The lucky direction for 2017 is north-north-west.
As all traditional festivals, Setsubun is celebrated in many variations throughout the country.
