Yesterday, thanks to Kaz, I "celebrated" my first Japanese holiday (and some of the traditions that went along with it!). February 3rd in Japan is a holiday called Setsubun. Setsubun literally means "seasonal divide" - but usually refers to the spring Setsubun (called Risshun). Previously Setsubun was thought of as sort of a New Year's Eve (because of its association with the lunar calendar). And, it is often accompanied with a ritual of cleansing away the evil from the past year and also driving away the disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come.
I learned that different parts of Japan celebrate this holiday in different ways - with different activities/customs. The most common ritual is called mamemaki, which means "bean scattering." In this ritual, individuals take roasted soybeans (often called fortune beans) and throw them out the door or at a family member wearing an Oni (demon or monster) mask while yelling "Demons Out! Luck In!" Traditionally, the head of the household (male) would carry out this task - but over time it has become something that all family members participate in (or put their own twist on). The beans are thought to purify the home and drive away evil, bad luck, and sickness. It is also considered good luck to eat a soybean for each year of your life (so, 29 beans for me and 30 beans for Kaz).
Kaz and I got some beans at the grocery store (and from my Japanese tutor). They were also giving out masks at the grocery store too! Since we live in a condo complex - we didn't actually throw the beans outside or at each other...but we did take turns wearing the mask, telling the demons to go away, and eating our roasted soybeans (the rest will be mixed into trail mix)!
In the Kansai region (where Kaz's family is from) - there is also a tradition to eat uncut makizushi called ehou-maki ("lucky direction roll") in silence while facing the year's lucky direction. This tradition has spread to other parts of Japan and we have seen many of the combini's (convenience stores) advertising the rolls. Traditionally, people would make the rolls - but that often involves a lot of work - and you are able to buy them quite easily. We - er, well, I - decided that we should make our own rolls...at least this year!
Ehou-maki basically look like fat sushi rolls. You can choose your own ingredients for them; however, there are many ingredients that people often choose from. We put seven ingredients in our rolls because seven is considered a lucky number in Japan. You need big pieces of seaweed (called nori), you need rice (to fill the rolls), and then you need your fillers cut up into small strips to place inside the roll. We used: mushrooms, spinach, cucumber, egg, root, imitation crab, and cod roe. First, you lay out the seaweed, then you arrange the rice, then the fillings, and then you roll! The little cup of water in the picture is to dip your fingers in - since the rice tends to stick. You have to be careful though - too much water will make your roll soggy and moist.
This year's direction was south-south-east (basically looking out our patio doors). I ate my roll in silence as Kaz made the occasional comment to try and get me to laugh. Those rolls are super filling and actually take a while to eat! Then we ate the leftover one sitting down! :)
Hopefully we have vanished the sickness, evil, and bad luck from our household and the households of our family and friends all over the world! I heard that back in the US the groundhog didn't see his shadow - and so Spring is on it's way for you all too!
If you want to celebrate Setsubun next year - just let us know. We can send you a mask and some beans...the rolls might not travel as well!
More soon!
Sunny moments: learning a new tradition, yummy rolls, being silly and wearing Oni masks.
Cloudy moments: rice everywhere?! ;)
I learned that different parts of Japan celebrate this holiday in different ways - with different activities/customs. The most common ritual is called mamemaki, which means "bean scattering." In this ritual, individuals take roasted soybeans (often called fortune beans) and throw them out the door or at a family member wearing an Oni (demon or monster) mask while yelling "Demons Out! Luck In!" Traditionally, the head of the household (male) would carry out this task - but over time it has become something that all family members participate in (or put their own twist on). The beans are thought to purify the home and drive away evil, bad luck, and sickness. It is also considered good luck to eat a soybean for each year of your life (so, 29 beans for me and 30 beans for Kaz).
Kaz and I got some beans at the grocery store (and from my Japanese tutor). They were also giving out masks at the grocery store too! Since we live in a condo complex - we didn't actually throw the beans outside or at each other...but we did take turns wearing the mask, telling the demons to go away, and eating our roasted soybeans (the rest will be mixed into trail mix)! In the Kansai region (where Kaz's family is from) - there is also a tradition to eat uncut makizushi called ehou-maki ("lucky direction roll") in silence while facing the year's lucky direction. This tradition has spread to other parts of Japan and we have seen many of the combini's (convenience stores) advertising the rolls. Traditionally, people would make the rolls - but that often involves a lot of work - and you are able to buy them quite easily. We - er, well, I - decided that we should make our own rolls...at least this year!
Ehou-maki basically look like fat sushi rolls. You can choose your own ingredients for them; however, there are many ingredients that people often choose from. We put seven ingredients in our rolls because seven is considered a lucky number in Japan. You need big pieces of seaweed (called nori), you need rice (to fill the rolls), and then you need your fillers cut up into small strips to place inside the roll. We used: mushrooms, spinach, cucumber, egg, root, imitation crab, and cod roe. First, you lay out the seaweed, then you arrange the rice, then the fillings, and then you roll! The little cup of water in the picture is to dip your fingers in - since the rice tends to stick. You have to be careful though - too much water will make your roll soggy and moist. 
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| We cut this roll - just so you could see the inside! |
This year's direction was south-south-east (basically looking out our patio doors). I ate my roll in silence as Kaz made the occasional comment to try and get me to laugh. Those rolls are super filling and actually take a while to eat! Then we ate the leftover one sitting down! :)Hopefully we have vanished the sickness, evil, and bad luck from our household and the households of our family and friends all over the world! I heard that back in the US the groundhog didn't see his shadow - and so Spring is on it's way for you all too!
If you want to celebrate Setsubun next year - just let us know. We can send you a mask and some beans...the rolls might not travel as well!
More soon!
Sunny moments: learning a new tradition, yummy rolls, being silly and wearing Oni masks.
Cloudy moments: rice everywhere?! ;)
Sounds like a lot of fun! :)
ReplyDeleteSign me up for the entire celebration (mask, sushi, and throwing beans at family and friends)! I love it all!!!
ReplyDelete