The Throwing of the Beans

On the Japanese calendar, February 4th is the first day of spring.  This is just on the calendar, mind you---weather-wise, spring is nowhere in sight.  On February 3rd there is a really popular tradition that involves ridding your house of bad luck/spirits and welcoming the good spirits in.  (I know we just did this at New Year's, but apparently the luck has run out by now.)

To conduct the ritual properly the leader of the household (typically Dad, if there is one) puts on a devil mask and the rest of the household (typically the children, especially if they are small) chase him out of the house and yard while throwing soybeans at him.  You also have to chant "Oni wa soto, fuka wa uchi..." which means "Demons/bad luck go away, good luck come in the house."

Seriously, this is a really popular tradition.  I hear that in nursery and elementary schools, the teacher will put on the devil mask and let the kids throw beans and chase her around.  There are also big festivals (called Yoroi Matsuri) where dudes dress up as demons, parade down the street and people throw beans and whatnot.

Our Japanese teacher thoughtfully provided us with a devil mask and some soybean packets so we could conduct the ritual, but unfortunately I forgot on the 3rd (I was involved in a book) and didn't do it.  I doubt I would have been able to convince Chad to put on the mask and run around with me anyway.

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