Setsubun literally means “the day between two seasons.” It is the day just before the beginning of spring in the traditional calendar. People celebrated Setsubun on February 2 this year; it was the first time in 124 years.
On the evening of the day, people scatter roasted soy beans inside and outside their houses shouting “Devils out, fortune in”. Then they eat the same number of beans as their ages and wish for good luck.
On the same day, there is a popular custom by which people eat a big sushi roll called “ehou-maki “or a lucky sushi roll. They eat it in the bite-sized pieces without cutting, facing the lucky direction of the year which is south-southeast for 2021.
Annual “mamemaki” or bean throwing ceremonies by some shrines in NISHIOGI were cancelled due to Covid-19 situation; therefore, “fukumame” or literally lucky beans packed in small paper bags were sold instead.
西荻の節分
節分とは、季節の分かれ目の意。通常、立春の前日を指す。本年は124年ぶりに2月2日。
この日には、家で豆まきの行事が行われる。人々は家の内と外に向かって「鬼は外、福は内」と叫びながら煎った大豆をまく。そのあと自分の歳と同じ数の煎り豆を、健康を願って食べる。
また、この日には、その年の恵方（えほう）―本年は南南東―を向いて食べると縁起が良いとされる「恵方巻き」と称する太巻き寿司を切り分けずに1本丸ごと食べる習慣もある。
西荻では、毎年昼間、一部神社で「豆まき式」が開催され大いに賑わうが、本年はコロナ禍のため中止となり、紙袋入り「福豆」が販売されるにとどまった。
