Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Spring
Seasonality: Early Spring/ February
Japanese Name: Setsubun/ Mamemaki
English Name: Last Day of Winter/ Bean-throwing Ceremony
Setsubun (節分) is the day before the beginning of spring in Japan. The name literally means "seasonal division", but usually the term refers to the spring Setsubun, properly called Risshun (立春) celebrated yearly on February 3 as part of the Spring Festival (春祭 haru matsuri). In its association with the Lunar New Year, spring Setsubun can be, and was previously thought of, as a sort of New Year's Eve.
Mamemaki (豆撒き) is a special ritual performed at Setsubun designed to cleanse away all the evil of the former year and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come. Mamemaki is usually performed by the toshiotoko (年男) of the household (the male who was born on the corresponding animal year on the Chinese zodiac), or else the male head of the household. Roasted soybeans called "fortune beans" (福豆 fuku mame) are thrown either out the door or at a member of the family wearing an Oni (demon/ogre) mask, while the people say "Demons out! Luck in!" (鬼は外! 福は内! Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!) and slam the door. This is still common practice in households, but many people will attend a shrine or temple's spring festival where this is done. The beans are thought to symbolically purify the home by driving away the evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them. Then, as part of bringing luck in, it is customary to eat roasted soybeans, one for each year of one's life, and in some areas, one for each year of one's life plus one more for bringing good luck for the year to come.
Ehō-maki (恵方巻), which means “lucky direction roll,” are a type of futomaki (太巻 - large, thick rolls) that are customarily eaten in silence on Setsubun while facing the year's lucky compass direction, determined by the zodiac symbol of that year. This custom started in Osaka, but in recent years eho-maki can be purchased at stores in the Kanto area and it is getting more recognized as a part of Setsubun tradition.
Otafuku (お多福), the Goddess of Joy, is the principal at this festivity and her smile dispels evil with a laugh and a giggle. She is funny and good-natured, happiness personified. Wild masked red and blue devils are seen fleeing from the beans thrown at temples when she is around. A major celebration at Setsubun is at Daihon Oji, or Senbon Shakado in Kyoto, the Okame aka Otafuku temple where the historical figure of Okame is believed to have originated in the 13th century; wife of the master carpenter of the temple who saved her husband’s building miscalculation with her quick wit and her prayer.
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