Setsubun no Hi: Demon out, fortune inside
The Japanese festival to say goodbye to winter and welcome spring
February in Japan is the month of one of the most curious festivals of the Japanese calendar and one of the children’s favorites. On February 3 in Japan, Setsubun no Hi (節分の日) or “Last day of winter” is celebrated. Although it is one of the coldest months of the year and in some areas of the country you can still see snowfall, Setsubun no Hi or know as Bean-Throwing Festival in English is a festival that celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
Originally setsubun (節分) was a word that meant ‘the last day of each season’ (the day that separates one station from the other) and setsubun was held four times a year with the change of the four seasons. Over time it ended up becoming only the last day of winter, which according to the lunar calendar, is February 3 (formerly celebrated on 4).
The Japanese had the belief that the “oni” (鬼), a type of Japanese folklore creature, similar to Western demons or ogres, appeared in the changing seasons. In order to scare away those demons, they throw dried soybeans while yelling ‘鬼は外、 福は内!’ (Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi) which means ‘Demon out, fortune inside’.
This tradition of throw died soybeans is called Mame-maki (豆まき)and literally means that, “throwing soybeans.” It’s done mainly inside houses, schools and temples. In homes it’s usually the father wear a mask of oni and acted as such to amuse the children, in schools are the teachers who play oni.
The days before the setsubun in supermarkets there is a special section for soybeans prepared in packages especially for this day. These packages of soybeans usually have an oni mask as a gift. Soybeans not only serve to throw them to demons, but tradition also says that you have to eat as many grains as you have years to attract good luck and have a healthy year.