Throwing Peanuts at the Devil

SetsuBun

February 3rd, 2007

They call it "Setsu-bun". By "they", I mean Japanese folk. It's a tradition, like so many others, that has a few strict rituals.

The word actually means "the division of the seasons", but it generally refers to this day, the "coming of spring", although I see a LOT of snow on the ground and ice on the steets, leading me to believe its not quite spring yet.

Around this time you can see many bags of peanuts, adorned with an Oni Mask (devil / demon). This being the year of the Pig (or boar), 2007, the person who is born of the same sign is the designated Oni that day, and had to face the others while wearing the devils mask. The rest of the group then starts throwing peanuts (the kind in the shell by the way) at the Devil, ridding the evils of last year, as well as the disease-bringing evils of the coming year. This can go on for quite awhile (the peanut throwing) depending on how much was purchased... I can only imagine this back in Canada, people would be getting bruised up and losing eyes. It doesnt have to be peanuts, traditionally I think that it was beans/mame. While throwing at the Devil/Demon/Ogre/Evil Spirit, everyone chants Go Away Evil Spirit, Come in Happiness (in Japanese).