#earlyspringdecorations

Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Spring

Seasonality: Early Spring/ February

Japanese Name: Otafuku/ Mamemaki

English Name: Goddess of Joy/ Bean-throwing Ceremony

     Mamemaki (豆撒き) is a special ritual performed at Setsubun designed to cleanse away all the evil of the former year and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come. Mamemaki is usually performed by the toshiotoko (年男) of the household (the male who was born on the corresponding animal year on the Chinese zodiac), or else the male head of the household. Roasted soybeans called "fortune beans" (福豆 fuku mame) are thrown either out the door or at a member of the family wearing an Oni (demon/ogre) mask, while the people say "Demons out! Luck in!" (鬼は外! 福は内! Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!) and slam the door. This is still common practice in households, but many people will attend a shrine or temple's spring festival where this is done. The beans are thought to symbolically purify the home by driving away the evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them. Then, as part of bringing luck in, it is customary to eat roasted soybeans, one for each year of one's life, and in some areas, one for each year of one's life plus one more for bringing good luck for the year to come.

     Otafuku (お多福), the Goddess of Joy, is the principal at this festivity and her smile dispels evil with a laugh and a giggle. She is funny and good-natured, happiness personified. Wild masked red and blue devils are seen fleeing from the beans thrown at temples when she is around. A major celebration at Setsubun is at Daihon Oji, or Senbon Shakado in Kyoto, the Okame aka Otafuku temple where the historical figure of Okame is believed to have originated in the 13th century; wife of the master carpenter of the temple who saved her husband’s building miscalculation with her quick wit and her prayer.

(Text Source 1)(Text Source 2)

Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Spring

Seasonality: Early Spring/ February

Japanese Name: Otafuku/ Mamemaki

English Name: Goddess of Joy/ Bean-throwing Ceremony

     Mamemaki (豆撒き) is a special ritual performed at Setsubun designed to cleanse away all the evil of the former year and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come. Mamemaki is usually performed by the toshiotoko (年男) of the household (the male who was born on the corresponding animal year on the Chinese zodiac), or else the male head of the household. Roasted soybeans called "fortune beans" (福豆 fuku mame) are thrown either out the door or at a member of the family wearing an Oni (demon/ogre) mask, while the people say "Demons out! Luck in!" (鬼は外! 福は内! Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!) and slam the door. This is still common practice in households, but many people will attend a shrine or temple's spring festival where this is done. The beans are thought to symbolically purify the home by driving away the evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them. Then, as part of bringing luck in, it is customary to eat roasted soybeans, one for each year of one's life, and in some areas, one for each year of one's life plus one more for bringing good luck for the year to come.

      Otafuku (お多福), the Goddess of Joy, is the principal at this festivity and her smile dispels evil with a laugh and a giggle. She is funny and good-natured, happiness personified. Wild masked red and blue devils are seen fleeing from the beans thrown at temples when she is around. A major celebration at Setsubun is at Daihon Oji, or Senbon Shakado in Kyoto, the Okame aka Otafuku temple where the historical figure of Okame is believed to have originated in the 13th century; wife of the master carpenter of the temple who saved her husband’s building miscalculation with her quick wit and her prayer. 

(Text Source 1)(Text Source 2)

Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Spring

Seasonality: Early Spring/ February

Japanese Name: Ume

English Name: Plum

    Ume (梅), or Japanese apricot blossom, is a flower that blooms from late winter to early spring (January to February) and is associated with the traditional Japanese new year that was based on the lunar calendar. Part of the charm of plum blossoms derived from the fact that during the cold when the landscape remained barren, such bold and beautiful flowers could blossom from the gnarled and nearly black branches of the plum tree. The brightly colored petals ranging from white, yellow, and light pink to even a dark maroon stood in stark contrast to the bare branches. This aesthetically pleasing sight has gone on to symbolize youth and new beginnings.

(Text Source)

Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Spring

Seasonality: Early Spring/ February

Japanese Name: Setsubun/ Mamemaki

English Name: Last Day of Winter/ Bean-throwing Ceremony

     Setsubun (節分) is the day before the beginning of spring in Japan. The name literally means "seasonal division", but usually the term refers to the spring Setsubun, properly called Risshun (立春) celebrated yearly on February 3 as part of the Spring Festival (春祭 haru matsuri). In its association with the Lunar New Year, spring Setsubun can be, and was previously thought of, as a sort of New Year's Eve.

     Mamemaki (豆撒き) is a special ritual performed at Setsubun designed to cleanse away all the evil of the former year and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come. Mamemaki is usually performed by the toshiotoko (年男) of the household (the male who was born on the corresponding animal year on the Chinese zodiac), or else the male head of the household. Roasted soybeans called "fortune beans" (福豆 fuku mame) are thrown either out the door or at a member of the family wearing an Oni (demon/ogre) mask, while the people say "Demons out! Luck in!" (鬼は外! 福は内! Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!) and slam the door. This is still common practice in households, but many people will attend a shrine or temple's spring festival where this is done. The beans are thought to symbolically purify the home by driving away the evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them. Then, as part of bringing luck in, it is customary to eat roasted soybeans, one for each year of one's life, and in some areas, one for each year of one's life plus one more for bringing good luck for the year to come.

     Ume (梅), or Japanese apricot blossom, is a flower that blooms from late winter to early spring (January to February) and is associated with the traditional Japanese new year that was based on the lunar calendar. Part of the charm of plum blossoms derived from the fact that during the cold when the landscape remained barren, such bold and beautiful flowers could blossom from the gnarled and nearly black branches of the plum tree. The brightly colored petals ranging from white, yellow, and light pink to even a dark maroon stood in stark contrast to the bare branches. This aesthetically pleasing sight has gone on to symbolize youth and new beginnings.

    Otafuku (お多福), the Goddess of Joy, is the principal at this festivity and her smile dispels evil with a laugh and a giggle. She is funny and good-natured, happiness personified. Wild masked red and blue devils are seen fleeing from the beans thrown at temples when she is around. A major celebration at Setsubun is at Daihon Oji, or Senbon Shakado in Kyoto, the Okame aka Otafuku temple where the historical figure of Okame is believed to have originated in the 13th century; wife of the master carpenter of the temple who saved her husband’s building miscalculation with her quick wit and her prayer.

(Text Source 1) (Text Source 2) (Text Source 3)

Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Spring

Seasonality: Early Spring/ February

Japanese Name: Setsubun/ Mamemaki

English Name: Last Day of Winter/ Bean-throwing Ceremony

     Setsubun (節分) is the day before the beginning of spring in Japan. The name literally means "seasonal division", but usually the term refers to the spring Setsubun, properly called Risshun (立春) celebrated yearly on February 3 as part of the Spring Festival (春祭 haru matsuri). In its association with the Lunar New Year, spring Setsubun can be, and was previously thought of, as a sort of New Year's Eve. 

      Mamemaki (豆撒き) is a special ritual performed at Setsubun designed to cleanse away all the evil of the former year and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come. Mamemaki is usually performed by the toshiotoko (年男) of the household (the male who was born on the corresponding animal year on the Chinese zodiac), or else the male head of the household. Roasted soybeans called "fortune beans" (福豆 fuku mame) are thrown either out the door or at a member of the family wearing an Oni (demon/ogre) mask, while the people say "Demons out! Luck in!" (鬼は外! 福は内! Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!) and slam the door. This is still common practice in households, but many people will attend a shrine or temple's spring festival where this is done. The beans are thought to symbolically purify the home by driving away the evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them. Then, as part of bringing luck in, it is customary to eat roasted soybeans, one for each year of one's life, and in some areas, one for each year of one's life plus one more for bringing good luck for the year to come.

     Ehō-maki (恵方巻), which means “lucky direction roll,” are a type of futomaki (太巻 - large, thick rolls) that are customarily eaten in silence on Setsubun while facing the year's lucky compass direction, determined by the zodiac symbol of that year. This custom started in Osaka, but in recent years eho-maki can be purchased at stores in the Kanto area and it is getting more recognized as a part of Setsubun tradition.

    Otafuku (お多福), the Goddess of Joy, is the principal at this festivity and her smile dispels evil with a laugh and a giggle. She is funny and good-natured, happiness personified. Wild masked red and blue devils are seen fleeing from the beans thrown at temples when she is around. A major celebration at Setsubun is at Daihon Oji, or Senbon Shakado in Kyoto, the Okame aka Otafuku temple where the historical figure of Okame is believed to have originated in the 13th century; wife of the master carpenter of the temple who saved her husband’s building miscalculation with her quick wit and her prayer.

(Text Source 1)(Text Source 2)

Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Spring

Seasonality: Early Spring/ February

Japanese Name: Ume

English Name: Plum

   Ume (梅), or Japanese apricot blossom, is a flower that blooms from late winter to early spring (January to February) and is associated with the traditional Japanese new year that was based on the lunar calendar. Part of the charm of plum blossoms derived from the fact that during the cold when the landscape remained barren, such bold and beautiful flowers could blossom from the gnarled and nearly black branches of the plum tree. The brightly colored petals ranging from white, yellow, and light pink to even a dark maroon stood in stark contrast to the bare branches. This aesthetically pleasing sight has gone on to symbolize youth and new beginnings.

(Text Source)

Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Spring

Seasonality: Early Spring/ February

Japanese Name: Setsubun/ Mamemaki

English Name: Last Day of Winter/ Bean-throwing Ceremony

     Setsubun (節分) is the day before the beginning of spring in Japan. The name literally means "seasonal division", but usually the term refers to the spring Setsubun, properly called Risshun (立春) celebrated yearly on February 3 as part of the Spring Festival (春祭 haru matsuri). In its association with the Lunar New Year, spring Setsubun can be, and was previously thought of, as a sort of New Year's Eve. 

      Mamemaki (豆撒き) is a special ritual performed at Setsubun designed to cleanse away all the evil of the former year and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come. Mamemaki is usually performed by the toshiotoko (年男) of the household (the male who was born on the corresponding animal year on the Chinese zodiac), or else the male head of the household. Roasted soybeans called "fortune beans" (福豆 fuku mame) are thrown either out the door or at a member of the family wearing an Oni (demon/ogre) mask, while the people say "Demons out! Luck in!" (鬼は外! 福は内! Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!) and slam the door. This is still common practice in households, but many people will attend a shrine or temple's spring festival where this is done. The beans are thought to symbolically purify the home by driving away the evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them. Then, as part of bringing luck in, it is customary to eat roasted soybeans, one for each year of one's life, and in some areas, one for each year of one's life plus one more for bringing good luck for the year to come.

     Hiragi Iwashi (柊鰯), meaning “holly-sardine,” is a charm that some families put up small decorations of sardine heads and holly leaves on their house entrances so that bad spirits and demons will not enter during Setsubun.

    Otafuku (お多福), the Goddess of Joy, is the principal at this festivity and her smile dispels evil with a laugh and a giggle. She is funny and good-natured, happiness personified. Wild masked red and blue devils are seen fleeing from the beans thrown at temples when she is around. A major celebration at Setsubun is at Daihon Oji, or Senbon Shakado in Kyoto, the Okame aka Otafuku temple where the historical figure of Okame is believed to have originated in the 13th century; wife of the master carpenter of the temple who saved her husband’s building miscalculation with her quick wit and her prayer.

(Text Source 1)(Text Source 2)