Setsubun

On February 3, 2012, it was the first day of Spring in the lunar calendar.  In Japan, this calls for a celebration called Setsubun (pronounced: "Set sue bon") also called "the bean-throwing ceremony".  On this day, you chase the demons from your home and you let in good fortune.  Most shrines have a large celebration.  I attended the ceremonies at the Hie Shrine.  There were many spectators watching as a procession of costumed participants strolled up to the stage and entered the temple.  These participants were beautifully decorated and also included Sumo wrestlers (the big guys!).  Soon a very large figure came out of the temple-it was the devil, very ornately dressed with quite a scary mask.  Unfortunately, due to the large crowd, I only got a photo of him from the back.  He was dancing and flailing his arms, while dried beans were thrown at him and people shouting-"Oni wa soto Fuku wa uchi" meaning "Devils out, fortune in!"  Once the devil had been chased away, bags of roasted soy beans and small gifts were thrown out to the audience.  It is consider good luck to catch the beans.  You are suppose to eat the amount of your age in beans.

Now, it is hard for me to write this next part without giggling.  The audience is a mass of adults, standing shoulder to shoulder.  Everyone is trying to catch the beans.  When a bag is thrown, the entire group moves as one trying to catch the bag!  Ok-I'm giggling now!  We moved forwards, backwards, side to side as one!   Along with our movements, came "Oohs and Aahs"  I can only compare this to kids catching candy at a parade...on steroids!  Finally, I caught 2 bags-enough for Bill and myself!  I then had to work my way through the crowd.  I say "Sumimasen" (pronounced-sue me ma sin), "Excuse Me" as I push to the outskirts of the crowd.  While standing at the back, one bag of beans falls at my feet and another hits me in the chest!  Good fortune for Joan-4 bags!

What an interesting day and one that will always make me giggle when I think of it!