Today is "Setsubun".Sunday, when I was on my way home from a Cub Scout service project, I noticed this fabric "Oni" in a shop window. Then, on Tuesday, in the same neighbourhood, Amy Katoh's Blue and White shop had a lovely quilted hanging in the window. I didn't have my camera but maybe the decorations will stay up a while and I can get a picture.
Setsubun is not really a holiday but it has come to be applied to the last day of "setsu" called "daikan" ("great cold") or the first day of spring in the ancient solar calendar. I can honestly say that this past week has been very cold so the idea of spring around the corner is quite appealing.
On Setsubun, roasted beans are scattered inside and outside the house chanting "oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi"!
(Out with demons! In with good luck!)
When my kids were little, they said, of course, oniwa (garden) was soto (outside) and fuku was inside, after all, we had a whole house full of Fukudas. These days, along with the little wooden box of beans, you get two oni masks. It is customary for family members to eat the same number of beans as their age. I have not counted the beans but I wonder if two senior citizens eat the right number of beans, there will be enough to throw at the oni.
Another custom is to eat this big rolled sushi (ehomaki) while facing in the lucky direction. This year that is North by northwest.
Papa gets a bite.
Mama gets a bite.
And Nikko eagerly takes part. (with thanks to some samurai who, 450 years ago, ate the same before racing off to and winning some big battle.)
And Nikko eagerly takes part. (with thanks to some samurai who, 450 years ago, ate the same before racing off to and winning some big battle.)
Today was the meeting of my quilt group and a small mystery was solved. I learned that the quilt in the Dome show that was surrounded by crowds with cameras was made by Yamaguchi, Momoe... A famous actress and singer and married to Miura, Tomokazu...also a famous movie star. The quilt was made using her mother's kimono.
I wish I had remembered my camera. My friends are making very creative quilts. As for me, I worked on the conference banner as it is small enough to carry. I quilted the letters but still need to add two more borders. The auction quilt will be ready to begin quilting very soon and if other years are an example, there will be little time for other things once we begin.
Happy Setsubun ... and hurry spring!
I loved learning about Setsubun. Do you celebrate Groundhog Day there? And the quilts you have photographed are stunning and such fun to see.
ReplyDeleteCustoms are wonderful, they keep us rooted and tied to the things that made our countries, what they are.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Love these stories - happy setsubun to you too!
ReplyDeleteHappy Setsubun! Although mine is still far away :) Thank you for letting us know about another interesting custom. I wonder how it is decided what the lucky direction for the year is....
ReplyDeleteHappy Setsubun! My family and I are celebrating here in N. CA with a nabe that has soybean sprouts. Not the same as the dried beans, but at least I'm eating some form of a bean.
ReplyDeleteHi Julie san. My friend Sachiko really enjoyed the picture of Nikko getting her share of the eihomaki. I'm with you hoping for spring.
ReplyDeleteI used to love shouting "ONI wa soto Fuku wa uchi" throwing roasted beans out the door when I was a kid. There was something so powerful about it... And for a kid, there's no more powerful medicine than telling the demons forcibly to get out of you life. I'll have to hunt for something the kids can throw out the door today. Happy Setsubun Mom!
ReplyDeleteJulie, thank you for sharing your photos of another interesting custom. I find it fascinating!
ReplyDeleteMom, That's hillarious, Nikko's bite! we forgot to throw our beans from norie!! It's hard to remember when you don't have the store windows to remind you. Feb 3 is always crazy for us, we had an all day inservice to celebrate the opening of The wonder of Learning (updated reggio emilia exhibit) at the children's museum, today is another day of itxxo gotta go.
ReplyDeleteJulie here in south Louisiana where I am right now spring is in full bloom. I took some pictures today and am hoping they turn out okay when I put them on the computer so I can show everyone. I keep thinking..."where is winter and what happened to it?" because this is so unusual even for this location. At home has bee the same - a very mild winter. I like it best when we have definite seasons. blessings, marlene
ReplyDeleteI love reading about all these interesting traditions. We feel a long way from Spring here now that the snow has finally come. I hope the little plants that started to grow will survive beneath it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great tradition! Good-bye winter, come on spring! Looks like Nikko is enjoying the tradition.
ReplyDeleteI THINK this is the first time I've met your husband. Nice to meet you! Itsumo osewani nattemasu!
ReplyDelete