Setsubun 2024

せつぶん (節分, "seasonal division") is a festival held on ２月３日, one day before the start of spring according to the Japanese lunar calendar.

It is not a national holiday. For many centuries, people have been performing rituals with the purpose of chasing away evil spirits at the start of spring.

In modern days, the most commonly performed せつぶん ritual is the throwing of roasted beans (まめまき) around one's house and at temples and shrines across the country.

When throwing the beans, you are supposed to shout

"おに は そと! ふく は うち! (鬼 は 外、 福 は 内）" ("Devils out, happiness in!").

Afterwards, you should eat -- one at a time -- the exact number of beans equal to the age that you will become in that year.

Oni wa soto!​

Fuku wa uchi!​

"Oni wa uchi" tte iwanaide!"

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"Don't say, "Demons inside!"

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Yakusoku no ofuda

The child made a promise to the oni that he would be good for the whole year.

The oni said, "If you do anything bad, your parents will call my number on this note. I will come and scold you right away!"

Then the oni handed the Promise Note (Yakusoku no Ofuda) to the child.

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Ehoumaki

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　　　Eat the roll without talking, while facing the lucky direction of the year.​​

Kotoshi no 'Ehou" wa Tou-Hoku-Tou:

This year's lucky direction is east-northeast.