Setsubun

"Onni wa soto!"  "Fuku wa uchi!"  are the cries you'd hear all over Japan today.  For February 3rd is the Setsubun festival and the chants call for "Devils, get out!  Good luck come in".  

Image by InvisibleA

Beans are believed to drive the evil spirits away and families often have fun throwing them at someone (often the father) wearing a devil's mask.  Some of the remaining beans are then eaten, one for each year of your age, in the belief that it will drive away illness for the coming year.

Photo by anyram

Image by JUN/LDK

In many areas, a long roll of sushi is also eaten, in silence, until you've finished the whole piece.  From memory there is a particular direction you should face when eating this sushi on Setsubun.

Images by ...roco

It's a bit like a spiritual spring cleaning and I think one of those traditions I'd like to start with my family.   How about you, are there any festivals from other cultures you'd like to adopt?

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Oni wa soto!

On February 3rd, all across Japan you'll hear cries of "Oni wa soto.  Fuku wa uchi", or "Demons out, good luck in".  It's part of the yearly Setsubun festival and is believed to "drive away disease bringing evil spirits for the year to come." (taken from Wikipedia)

Today I've been doing my own "Oni wa soto" chants.

Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!, originally uploaded by hippoPAPA +mum (Bento~Life).

Ironically, just hours after my last post about all the food I wanted to eat, The Man and I were struck down with a nasty stomach bug.  The little one had come down with it the day before and was still suffering so we had the three of us very ill at the same time.  Most of the last 36 hours is a blur, but there is a moment that just seems surreal.  I'd called the after hours doctor's service, concerned what the bug was doing to The post-transplant Man, and so found myself letting a complete stranger into the house at 3am because he was going stab us with needles.

Today we're all starting to feel human again and I'm in my post-sickness washing frenzy.  The moment I start feeling the tiniest bit better, I need to strip all the beds, gather all the towels, load up any clothes that have been worn during the state of unwellness and wash.  I know that all the germs have most likely gone but it's physical need I have to clean, no cleaning of bathrooms or kitchen, no vacuuming, just washing.  No matter the weather, all windows and doors also need to be opened and today I've been almost trying to push the air out while calling "Oni wa soto!".

How about you?  Is there something you feel the need to do to expel the "evil spirits"?


***Update - I've just realised that in my sick haze, I completely missed yesterday's Bookcase Tour and to announce the winner of the giveaway!  I will try to do that either tonight or tomorrow.  I'm so sorry! ***