The Day before the Beginning of Spring : Setsubun

Devil mask and roasted beans

February 3 is the date called "Setsubun" in Japan, when is the end of winter according to a Chinese calendar.  

On this evening, we scatter roasted beans inside and outside of the house while we cry "Oniwa soto, Fukuwa uchi". 
It means that "Devil go away, Good luck come in". 
In some families, an adult like a father puts on a devil mask and kids throw beans to him.
It's kind of charm against bad luck and illness.


Next, about the dinner on the date.
We have special foods and eating manners for setsubun.
We eat sushi roll, grilled fish of sardine and roasted beans.
You have to eat roasted beans at least your age + a bean.
If you are 20 years old, you have to eat 21 beans.

Sushi Roll

Grilled sardine

I will write about how to make sushi roll next time, but please remember we can put anything you want to roll.

And we have a special rule to eat this sushi roll only in setsubun.
We shouldn't tell a word and should pray for a good luck in the future while eating a sushi roll.
And we have another rule, too.
We should see the decided direction while eating this sushi roll.

The direction is the following...２００８年(平成２０年)　South South East   *1
２００９年(平成２１年)　East North East     *2
２０１０年(平成２２年)　West South West    *3２０１１年(平成２３年)　South South East   *4２０１２年（平成２４年)　North North West   *5
２０１３年(平成２５年)　South South East
２０１４年(平成２６年)　East North East
２０１５年(平成２７年)　West South West
２０１６年(平成２８年)　South South East
２０１７年(平成２９年)　North North West
２０１８年(平成３０年)　South South East Repeat *1-5

So we will eat sushi roll with looking at South South East this setsubun, on this February 3.