- Ace
- Jack
- King
- Jack
- King
2月3日 「節分」
February third,
Last Day of the Traditional Lunar Calender (“Setsubun”)
King
Today is the third of February. Do you know what that means? Yup, "onii-san"day, so "brother day." Think of me as a brother and feel free to ask me anything!
Jack
Yeah, me too. Think of me as your big brother and let me spoil you!!
Ace
*clapping* Okay, so today is -setsubun-! The event to get rid of misfortune and idiots! Out with the idiots, in with luck! Out with the demons, also out with the idiots!! *throws beans*
Jack
Ouch! That hurts!
King
Aa... Oi, stop that. Ouch...
Note:
- King says "brother" (nii-san) because of the date. It is the second month (2 = ni) and third day (3 = san), so ni-san.
- On setsubun one invites luck and gets rid of evil through the chant "out with the demons, in with luck", or "oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi!" Ace is changing this chant to
"baka wa soto, fuku wa uchi!". For more info on setsubun, please continue reading.
Yes, it's that time of the year again. Time to throw beans at demons and invite prosperity and happiness in your home. Japan celebrates Setsubun.
Setsubun originally referred to the eve of the first day of any of the twenty-four divisions of the solar year known as setsu (節). Later it was applied more specifically to the last day of the setsu called daikan (大寒, "great cold"), which corresponded to the eve of risshun (立春, "the first day of spring"), the New Year's Day of the ancient solar calendar and the traditional beginning of spring.
Setsubun beans (usually soybeans) are roasted and placed in a small wooden box (masu) of the type used for measuring rice or sake. The beans are scattered inside and outside the house or building to the common chant of Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi (鬼は外! 福は内! "Out with demons! In with good luck!"). It is customary for family members to eat the same number of beans as their age. In recent years it has become common practice at famous temples and shrines for well-known personalities born under the Chinese zodiacal sign for that year (十干十二支 jikkan junishi) to be invited to throw out beans as a means of soliciting visitors. Nowadays, it common to see peanuts being scattered instead of roasted soybeans.
(source: http://www.jref.com/japan/culture/setsubun.shtml)
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