“Setsu-bunn (節分)” in Japan
Hi, How are you?
We feel so cold in NY.
(We didn’t make this cake and Naoki’s birthday is not in February)
Today’s blog is about “Setsu-bunn” of Japanese traditional culture.
The event is on February 3 or 4 in Japan.
Q:What is “Setsu-bunn”?
A:This represents the seasonal division.
The “Setsu-bunn” is ceremony for banishing evils and calamities from
house hold.
Q:What do we do for the “Setsu-bunn” event?
A:
1. Mame-maki
A rite of throwing beans (soy beans) to force the devils out.
A lot of People do this in their houses. A big event(Mamemaki
performance) is also held at “Narita-san Shinshou-temple(成田山新勝寺).”
It is famous in Japan. Narita’s location is in Chiba(千葉). You probably
remember Narita as the International Airport. Don’t get confused,
this event does not take place at the airport.
2. Hiiragi-sashi
A rite to keep devils away by hanging burned sardine fish’s heads
skewered to a holly branch in front of the house gate.
This Hiiragi is leaves. The leave’s shape outline is like sharp needle.
If it is touched, it is so painful. The smoke is painful for the eyes
when the sardine is burned and the bone is hard to eat.
So It is told Hiiragi-sashi can keep devils away.
3. Eating baked soy beans
We believe we can become more healthy if we eat the same number
of throwing beans as our age. For example, someone who is age 10
will eat 10 beans. A person who is age 20 will eat 20 beans. But if
the age is 50, 60, 70 years old over, you can imagine it is hard to
eat that many beans…
Thank you very much for reading and taking your precious time with us.
See you again on our next blog.
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