February is called "Kisaragi" deriving from
wearing more "kinu" (clothes) because of the cold temperature,
more bright weather comes,
plum blossoms viewing month.
On February 3rd, which is the day before "Risshun" (Spring Begins) as well as New Year's
Eve in the lunar calendar, we celebrate "Setsubun" mamemaki (throwing beans).
Traditionally "Toshi Otoko" meaning head man of the house or "year men" who are born in
the animal sign of the coming year in the Oriental zodiac (2008 is the year of the mouse)
throw beans to someone dressed as "oni" (ogre) character wearing red or blue ogre masks
saying Oni wa Soto, Fuku wa Uchi (Demon Out, Happiness In). After the ritual throwing of the
beans, family members eat the number of beans corresponding to their age wishing the good
fortune of the coming year. Setsubun is celebrated at Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines
throughout Japan. For throwing beans, we use roasted soy beans. It is also a tradition to
decorate a holy tree in front of the house with a head of a sardine, bean hull (and its
sound), and holly thorn so that bad spirits will not enter.
February Events:
February 3rd: "Setsubun" – seasonal watershed, the close of winter
February 4th: "Risshun" – the first day of spring
February 11th: National Foundation Day (Japanese National Holiday)
February 14th: St. Valentines Day – In Japan, the day women tell their love by giving
chocolate to the men closest to their hearts. Huge amount of chocolate is sold today as it
is a custom that female distributes so-called "Giri Choco" meaning chocolate out of
courtesy or obligation chocolate to male co-workers or to bosses at the office.
Sources:
Wikipedia: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/3%E6%9C%88
Doll Festival: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%9B%9B%E3%81%BE%E3%81%A4%E3%82%8A
Setsubun in Japan: http://www2.gol.com/users/stever/setsubun.htm
