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+-- Setsubun --+
The beginning of spring
February 3rd
"Oni wa soto! Huku wa uchi!"
There is a custom to throw the parched beans shouting the phrase about the luck around the house on "Setsubun".
The saying means "In with luck! Out with the devil!" It's believed that we can send the evil away by throwing the beans at them, and will be ready to see the new spring coming with the house which has been purified.
Setsubun is the day before the first day of the next new season in the traditional Japanese calendar.
We have 4 distinct different seasons in Japan though I was often surprised when I traveled abroad to know there are not a few people who are thinking it's always hot and humid in Japan like Southeast Asians countries. They sometimes asked me when we have winter in Japan or some of them didn't believe we have a lot of snow in the mountain parts of Japan in winter.
Anyway, spring can be special and favorable after waiting during the cold winter with the short daytime and the weak sunshine.
Originally, setsubun is the word for all of last day of the 4 seasons which comes around almost every 3 months in the year, but it's common we are aware of it and use the word just on the third day of February as last day of winter maybe because of the feeling of impatience for the warm, beautiful spring days.
The next day of setsubun is called "risshun" which means the standing of the spring, however, we are going to have the most winter-like month in the year in February. The lowest temperature in Tokyo and the highest temperature in Hokkaido are still around 0 degree.
It's just the awakening of the spring. We need to wait another 2 months to see that cherry blossoms like the train of the dress for the princess of spring covers the country.
At the winter solstice in December, the sun revives, grows stronger again, it will pass the spring equinox, and then, it's going to reach the summer solstice as the peak.
Actually, something must be starting when we pass thorough Setsubun. We're heading for something new. We are on our way to the full.
It can be regarded as the time for the beginning or the chance to rebirth.
We need to prepare for the motion and look about ourselves again.
So, it's not only the house which must be purified at Setsubun but also our spirits by driving the evil out from scattering beans.
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