Why do Japanese people throw beans on 節分 (せつぶん）
Feb 03, 2023たいてい毎年2月3日は「節分の日」です。これは冬が終わる日のことで、つまり、次の日に春が始まります。これは太陰暦から来ているので、まれに2月2日や2月4日になることもあります。
‘Setsubun’ is the last day of winter and spring starts from the next day and it is normally February 3rd. This is based on the lunar calendar and the date can be 2nd or 4th of February depending on the year.
東アジアではこの太陰暦で新年を新春として迎える国が多くて、日本も昔このタイミングで正月を祝っていました。明治時代に今の太陽暦に変わったので、日本ではよく太陰暦のことを「旧暦」と呼び、太陰暦の正月を「旧正月」と呼んでいます。
Japan followed the lunar calendar in the past like many East Asian countries and celebrated New Year as the beginning of spring around February. However, it was changed to the solar calendar in Meiji Period and the lunar calendar is often called ’old calendar’ and the New Year followed the lunar calendar is called ‘old New Year’ in literal translation.
「節分の日」の晩に鬼が家に来ると言われています。それで、「鬼は外！」と言って、家の外に豆をまきます。鬼は心の中の悪いもの、豆はそれをきれいにするものと考えられています。そして、「福は内！」と言って、家の中にも豆をまきます。
It is believed that a monster called ‘oni’ visits your home in the evening of ‘Setsubun’. People throw (soy) beans outside of the house towards ‘oni’ saying ‘Oni wa soto! (the monster should stay outside!)’ This is because ‘oni’ actually represents something eval within your spirit and mind and beans are believed to purify it. Therefore, people also throw them inside of the house saying ‘Fuku wa uchi! (happiness should stay inside!)’
それから、1年の健康と無事を願って、その年の自分の年齢の数分豆を食べます。地域によって、他にも食べるものがあるそうです。大阪で有名なのが恵方巻という寿司です。
After that, you eat the same number of beans as your age of the year to wish your health and happiness for the year. People eat other things too depending on the regions. For example, it is famous that people eat a type of sushi roll called ‘Ehomaki’ in Osaka area.
また、有名なお寺や神社でも「節分の日」に豆まきをします。浅草の浅草寺や京都の八坂神社などでは毎年有名人が豆まきをするので、テレビで見ることができます。皆さんもチャンスがあったら、行ってみてください。
This event is also held in many famous Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. For example, the celebrities throw beans at ‘Sensoji’ in Asakusa, Tokyo and ‘Yasaka Jinja’ in Gion, Kyoto and you can watch it on TV as well. It might be interesting for you to visit one of these places if you have a chance one day,
今年も節分の豆を食べて、元気に過ごそうと思っています。皆さんの国では季節が変わる時期にどんなイベントがありますか。良かったら、節分の豆を食べてみてください。
I am going to eat the beans on this coming ‘Setsubun’ and stay healthy! In your country, what kind of event is held when you welcome spring? It might be nice to try the beans one day if you would like.
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