Setsubun 節分
What is Setsubun?
Celebrated every February 3 in Japan
The transition between winter and spring
For many centuries, the people of Japan have been performing rituals with the purpose of chasing away evil spirits at the start of spring.
Around the 13th century, for example, it became a custom to drive away evil spirits by the strong smell of burning dried sardine heads, the smoke of burning wood and the noise of drums. While this custom is not popular anymore, a few people still decorate their house entrances with fish heads and holy tree leaves in order to deter evil spirits from entering.
Similar to an exorcism of evil spirits, and to welcome fortune
The Bean Throwing Festival
In modern days, the most commonly performed setsubun ritual is the throwing of roasted beans around one's house and at temples and shrines across the country.
Usually one person puts on an oni mask while the others throw beans at that person
When throwing the beans, you are supposed to shout "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" ("Devils out, happiness in").
Afterwards you should pick up and eat the number of beans, which corresponds to your age.
Foods
It is customary now to eat uncut makizushi called Eho-Maki (恵方巻) (lit. "lucky direction roll") in silence on Setsubun while facing the yearly lucky compass direction, determined by the zodiac symbol of that year. Charts are published and occasionally packaged with uncut makizushi during February.[
Some families put up small decorations of sardine heads and holly leaves on their house entrances so that bad spirits will not enter. Ginger sake (生姜酒 shōgazake) is customarily drunk at Setsubun, much like how egg nog is common at Christmas in Western cultures.
These beans are called fuku mame (fortune beans.) It is believed that people can be healthy and happy if they pick up and eat fuku mame the number equal to their ages.
Temples
Bean throwing ceremonies are held at many temples and shrines around the country. People visit shrines and temples to pick up beans to receive good fortune.
At major temples and shrines, Japanese cerebrities, such as sumo wrestlers, often participate in mamemaki.
Celebrated every February 3 in Japan
The transition between winter and spring
For many centuries, the people of Japan have been performing rituals with the purpose of chasing away evil spirits at the start of spring.
Around the 13th century, for example, it became a custom to drive away evil spirits by the strong smell of burning dried sardine heads, the smoke of burning wood and the noise of drums. While this custom is not popular anymore, a few people still decorate their house entrances with fish heads and holy tree leaves in order to deter evil spirits from entering.
Similar to an exorcism of evil spirits, and to welcome fortune
The Bean Throwing Festival
In modern days, the most commonly performed setsubun ritual is the throwing of roasted beans around one's house and at temples and shrines across the country.Usually one person puts on an oni mask while the others throw beans at that person
When throwing the beans, you are supposed to shout "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" ("Devils out, happiness in").Afterwards you should pick up and eat the number of beans, which corresponds to your age.
Foods
It is customary now to eat uncut makizushi called Eho-Maki (恵方巻) (lit. "lucky direction roll") in silence on Setsubun while facing the yearly lucky compass direction, determined by the zodiac symbol of that year. Charts are published and occasionally packaged with uncut makizushi during February.[Some families put up small decorations of sardine heads and holly leaves on their house entrances so that bad spirits will not enter. Ginger sake (生姜酒 shōgazake) is customarily drunk at Setsubun, much like how egg nog is common at Christmas in Western cultures.
These beans are called fuku mame (fortune beans.) It is believed that people can be healthy and happy if they pick up and eat fuku mame the number equal to their ages.
Temples
Bean throwing ceremonies are held at many temples and shrines around the country. People visit shrines and temples to pick up beans to receive good fortune.
At major temples and shrines, Japanese cerebrities, such as sumo wrestlers, often participate in mamemaki.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 |
Category:
traditional
|
0
comments
Comments (0)