Setsubun - a Day Early This Year
Setsubun, also known as the eve of the beginning of Spring, originally referred to marking the change from one season to the next. Many households take part in mame-maki, which is throwing roasted soy beans around while shouting "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" This means something like - out with the devil, in with the fortune! People eat the same number of beans as their own age, in order to be free of sickness during that year. People also make and eat a large sushi roll called maki-sushi. My first year in Japan, my neighbor invited me to her apartment to make maki-sushi. If you are interested, you can see that post here.
Usually, Setsubun is held on February 3rd, but this year, for the first time in 124 years, it is on February 2nd. In 2022, it will return to February 3rd. It has something to do with the lunar calendar, but I don't know what it's all about.
7 comments:
I love maki-sushi but eating 69 beans would be a challenge for me!
I also love sushi, I have a sushi making kit but haven't used it for several years.
Pamela: What a fun tradition, Mike still has and uses his bamboo mats for rolling sushi.
Have a great day
Catherine
It seems a little early for spring to be arriving? Although I have noticed some trees here are just beginning to turn autumn colours, so maybe not.
In our family the challenge is not only to eat the right number of beans, but tos scoop them up with one hand from the big box, too. For each year it becomes more and more difficult to get the correct number.
Due to the pandemic and the advice to not share things, there will be no fist-grabbing of beans this year. We did, however, eat the sushi roll, facing SSE and not saying a word until the whole uncut roll has been consumed. May we all be healthy, wealthy and fine for another year!
Japan has some interesting traditions.
I love Japanese traditions - especially when they include sushi!
Post a Comment