Roasted soybeans called the "fortune beans" (福豆fukumame,) are thrown either out the window or at a member of the family wearing an oni or an ogre mask, while the people shout "Demons out! Luck in!" (鬼は外! 福は内!, Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!?) and then eat the soybeans, one for each year of one’s life to bring good luck and prevent sickness for the year to come. While this is still a common practice in households, many people also attend a shrine or temple's spring festival where this is done.
In popular temples like Senso-ji in Asakusa, Tokyo or the Naritasan Shinshou-ji, Chiba, where they receive wide media coverage, celebrities, sumo wrestlers or kabuki actors are invited and they throw roasted soy beans, small envelopes with money, sweets, candies and other prizes. Crowds of nearly 100,000 people who attend the annual festival turn wild with everyone pushing and shoving to get the gifts tossed from above.
Another practice
like in the Kansai area or Osaka, it is customary for families to eat uncut
makizushi called eho-maki (恵方巻, lucky direction roll) while facing the direction
considered to be auspicious usually determined by the zodizc symbol of that
year. Eho-maki can also be purchased at stores in the Kanto
area and it is getting more recognized as a part of Setsubun tradition. In some families
living near the coastal area, it's common to put up small decorations of sardine and
holly leaves (柊鰯 hiragi iwashi) on their house entrances so that bad spirits will not
enter. Other practice such as in more remote areas would include religious dance, festival and bringing tools inside the house that might
normally be left outside to prevent the spirits from harming them.
Children's Song: 豆まき (Mamemaki)
おにはそと ふくはうち Demon Out! Luck In!
ぱらっ ぱらっ ぱらっ ぱらっ Parat Parat Parat Parat
まめのおと Sound of bean scattering
おには こっそり にげていく Demon slips away quietly
おにはそと ふくはうち Demon out! Luck in!
ぱらっ ぱらっ ぱらっ ぱらっ Parat Parat Parat Parat
まめのおと Sound of bean scattering
はやく おはいり ふくのかみ Happy Luck, Quick! Come in
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