Setsubun is a traditional holiday in the Japanese calendar that is held on February 3rd every year. It is said to fall at the point in winter where there are more warm days than cold days coming up and it is usually pretty accurate. I don't think its a national holiday but it sort of gives you something to look forward to with the cold of winter being half over. On TV you see singers, TV personalities and Sumo wrestlers go to temples where large crowds gather as the the famous people throw beans to everyone. The tradition is that people take beans home, throw them into their house from the front door and say "Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi!" which translates as "Devils out, good luck in!" I have never actually thrown beans in my own house, I am afraid that I would be stepping on beans all year :) They are selling packs of beans and other related items at stores now and I took a picture for you below.
Comments (3)
waaah!! It's an interesting tradition! I haven't never heard about it!
Thanks Ed to have talked about it to us!^^
Posted by Verena | January 22, 2008 11:18 PM
Posted on January 22, 2008 23:18
This is very interesting!! And funny!! ^^
We have a tradition in Valencia that day also ^^. This is the "día del rollo" or "the day of the pancake", I think this is the best translation ^^U
Yeah... the name is a bit singular, but it's like that. It's suposed you take your pancake to go to the church, because the priest spreads the sacred smoke that blesses the pancake, wich you support in a basket with a hand, while you support a candle with another hand.
If you eat up the blessed roll, you will be protected from the bad spirits and thoughts.
In fact... Nobody does the ritual, simply we buy the pancake to eat it ^^U.
Please, tell as more things about japanese culture *^.^*
Chu!!
Posted by Carla | January 24, 2008 1:45 AM
Posted on January 24, 2008 01:45
Hahaha! That is great Carla! I love that, the Day of the Pancake! I`ll tell you I would prefer to eat pancakes than uncooked soy beans. Thanks for that.
Posted by edo | January 24, 2008 6:59 PM
Posted on January 24, 2008 18:59