What is Setsubun and how is it celebrated?
Setsubun (節分, “seasonal division”) is a festival held on February 2, 3 or 4, one day before the start of spring according to the Japanese lunar calendar. 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.
Why is Oni afraid of beans?
The beans are thought to symbolically purify the home by driving away the evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them.
Why do people throw beans on Setsubun?
The tradition of Setsubun dates back centuries, but the bean throwing tradition first emerged in the Muromachi period (1337 – 1573). The beans represent vitality and are thought to symbolically purify the home by driving away evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health.
What is Setsubun Oni?
Setsubun (節分）literally means “seasonal division” and is a festival held on the day before the beginning of spring according to the Japanese lunar calendar. Rituals are held on this day to drive away evil spirits and welcome good fortune.
What is the purpose of Namahage?
In Japanese folklore, namahage are a troll type of oni (demon) with blue or red skin. During the new year, they get their kicks by terrorizing villages and carrying off young brides. The only way to appease them and send them on their merry way is by giving them mochi.
How do you say Happy Setsubun?
On Setsubun (which literally means “seasonal division”), it is custom in Japan to throw soya beans to wish for good luck and get rid of bad luck and evil spirits. When throwing the beans, it is customary to shout “Oni-wa Soto, Fuku-wa Uchi!”, meaning “Evil spirits go away, good luck comes in!”.
What is the Zabuton throwing?
A zabuton (座布団, Japanese pronunciation: [d͡za̠bɯ̟ᵝtõ̞ɴ]) is a Japanese cushion for sitting. In sumo, members of the audience throw zabuton toward the ring after the upset of a yokozuna by a lower-ranked wrestler, despite the dangers.
What does Risshun mean in Japanese?
Risshun (立春) refers to the spring setsubun (節分). Setsubun (節分) is a term that refers to the day before each new season. Another term that is inter-changeable with the term risshun (立春) is haru matsuri (春祭). Haru matsuri (春祭) literally means ‘spring festival’.
What food is eaten during Setsubun?
The primary food on Setsubun is a sushi roll called Eho-maki (恵方巻). This special sushi roll is made with seven fillings, representing the Seven Deities of Good Fortune called Shichifukujin. The type of ingredients is not as important as the number.
Do oni hate beans?
Mame (豆), or bean, is a homophone for mame (魔滅), which means “destroying evil,” so soybeans were thought to be especially effective weapons against oni demons—somewhat like garlic is believed to be powerful against vampires in the West. These beans are called fuku-mame (good fortune beans).
What does a Namahage look like?
The Namahage (生剥) are demonlike beings portrayed by men wearing hefty oni (ogre) masks and traditional straw capes (mino) during a New Year’s ritual, in local northern Japanese folklore of the Oga Peninsula area of Akita Prefecture.