Introduction
Do you know when Setsubun falls this year? It's actually February 3rd! This year, in 2021, Setsubun falls on February 2nd! Apparently, this is the first time in 124 years that Setsubun will be celebrated on February 2nd instead of February 3rd. Setsubun is a traditional Japanese event that has been familiar to us for a long time, but if you think about it, there are probably some things you don't know, like why it's different this year even though it's usually February 3rd. In this column, we'll introduce you to some of the surprising facts about Setsubun that you may not know!
Origin
First, let's look at the origins of Setsubun. As mentioned at the beginning, Setsubun in 2021 falls on February 2nd, not February 3rd. This is because Setsubun is an event held the day before the beginning of spring. Setsubun originally began as a way to ward off evil spirits at the turning point of the seasons, when evil spirits are more likely to emerge. In other words, the date of February 3rd is not important; rather, the beginning of spring, a seasonal turning point on the calendar, is the deciding factor for the date of Setsubun. Setsubun did not originally take the form of the familiar bean-throwing ritual of driving away demons. It is said to have originated in a Chinese ritual called Tsuina, which was introduced to Japan around the Heian period. In this ritual, masks were worn and invisible evil spirits were driven away through dance. Eventually, the person being warded off evil spirits became likened to a demon, and the ritual evolved to drive away visible demons.
Why did people start scattering beans?
I mentioned earlier that dances were performed to ward off evil spirits, but how did they evolve into the familiar practice of scattering beans? Apparently, Oina rituals were performed using talismanic tools such as peaches and reed bows and arrows. Over time, this practice declined and evolved into
more commonplace practices, such as placing a sardine head impaled on a holly branch at the entrance to the house or scattering roasted beans while chanting "Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi" (good fortune in). Grains have long been believed to ward off evil, and the Japanese slang for "mame" (demon eyes) suggests that scattering beans in the eyes of demons is a way to drive away demons. However, even the customs of bean scattering and Setsubun vary greatly from region to region. In fact, in my area, we scattered peanuts instead of soybeans. What you might think of as a normal Setsubun may be surprising to others! Why not ask around?
Good fortune-bringing products related to Setsubun
Good fortune is in! So we've picked out some products that are likely to bring you good fortune!
With the change of seasons, it's not only easy to ward off evil spirits but also to get sick. If you haven't celebrated Setsubun recently, why not take this opportunity to do so and pray for good health and safety for the year ahead?
