|
In Japan, Setsubun (節分) is the day before the beginning of each season (spring, summer, autumn, winter). The name literally means "division of season". Usually the term refers to the Spring Setsubun, properly called Risshun (立春), celebrated yearly on February 3rd (associated with the Lunar New Year).
Spring Setsubun is traditionally celebrated by the head of the household throwing pan-heated soy beans out the door, chanting "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" (鬼は外! 福は内!) while he does so. The literal meaning of the words is "Demons out! Luck in!" -- the beans are thought to symbolically purify the home. In the Heian era, a famous Buddhist monk was said to have driven away Oni (demons or evil spirits) by throwing beans.
External link
|
