February 3rd-we celebrate this day for the coming of spring.
It is called " SETSUBUN" meaning the day before beginning of spring.
Setsubun, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Setsubun&oldid=268659360 (last visited Feb. 6, 2009).
On this day, we do the bean-scattering ceremony from young kids to old grandmothers and eat as the same number of beans as their age. If you are 50, you should eat 50 beans! We throw beans to rooms of our house chanting "Demons Out!, Luck In!", and sometimes father disguised himself as demon to be a target of kinds.
My daughter celebrated this day and enjoyed the bean scattering at her nursery school with school mates. To prepare for this day, kids were makeing their own demon's mask and bean box.
She really like this mask and box, so she ask me " Where is my demon?" whenever I pickher her up at the nursery.
She is smiling with demon mask today, too:) I hope not she become a little demon...
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Interesting. I have learned something new about Japan. So there are 4 setsubun in a year.
ReplyDeleteWe too celebrate the Spring Setsubun but we call it 立春. 立春 marks the start of spring and it is an important day for the Chinese who celebrates Chinese Lunar New Year. Traditionally Chinese Lunar New Year celebration lasts 15 days. And today 6 Feb 2009, is the 12th days of the Lunar New Year so... HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Ventana de TeePee,
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
You have 15 days celebration!!!
Lucky you!