In the old lunar Japanese calendar, each season had its own day (called Setubun) to mark the change of the season. In the old calendar, the first day of spring (Rissyun) was considered to be the start of the New Year, so the Setubun at the end of winter was the last day of the year, and had special customs. Today it is the only Setubun still celebrated. In the modern calendar, it occours around February 3 or 4.
Today, various local family customs and manners of celebrating Setubun still exist. All the customs are events suitable for greeting the New Year: driving out evil, and wishing for good fortune in the coming year.
On the evening of Setubun, generally, an Oni-uchi (devil-extermination) and Mame-maki (bean-scattering) ceremony is held. Before nightfall people saute soybeans without oil, and in the evening, throw soybeans inside and outside of the house saying "Oni wa soto. Huku wa uchi! (Out with the devil! In with good fortune!)" in order to drive out any bad spirits.
In a related custom, many people make a meal of the remaining soybeans with each person eating one bean for each year of their age.
Another Setubun custom is to eat grilled sardines and mount the leftover heads on holly twigs, and set them next to the front door of the house. This will frighten away any demons atempting to enter. Depending on the area, garlic or another strong-smelling material is sometimes used instead of sardine heads.
In the Kansai area, some people also observe Setubun by eating an uncut sushi roll (Maki-zushi) while facing towards this year's "lucky direction." This direction depends upon the zodiac sign of the year. This year, the year of the mouse, the direction was south-south-east. On this one day, sushi shops don't cut their sushi rolls, but leave them whole.
Today, various local family customs and manners of celebrating Setubun still exist. All the customs are events suitable for greeting the New Year: driving out evil, and wishing for good fortune in the coming year.
On the evening of Setubun, generally, an Oni-uchi (devil-extermination) and Mame-maki (bean-scattering) ceremony is held. Before nightfall people saute soybeans without oil, and in the evening, throw soybeans inside and outside of the house saying "Oni wa soto. Huku wa uchi! (Out with the devil! In with good fortune!)" in order to drive out any bad spirits.
In a related custom, many people make a meal of the remaining soybeans with each person eating one bean for each year of their age.
Another Setubun custom is to eat grilled sardines and mount the leftover heads on holly twigs, and set them next to the front door of the house. This will frighten away any demons atempting to enter. Depending on the area, garlic or another strong-smelling material is sometimes used instead of sardine heads.
In the Kansai area, some people also observe Setubun by eating an uncut sushi roll (Maki-zushi) while facing towards this year's "lucky direction." This direction depends upon the zodiac sign of the year. This year, the year of the mouse, the direction was south-south-east. On this one day, sushi shops don't cut their sushi rolls, but leave them whole.
0 件のコメント:
コメントを投稿