Setsubun

Setsubun
Tokuan shrine
Also calledBean-throwing festival, Bean-throwing ceremony
Observed byJapanese people
TypeReligious, cultural
SignificanceDay before the beginning of spring
DateBetween 2 and 4 February
2023 dateFriday, 3 February
2024 dateSaturday, 3 February
FrequencyAnnual
Related toSpring Festival (Harumatsuri)
Celebrities throw roasted beans in Ikuta Shrine, Kobe
Kimpusen-ji

Setsubun (節分) is the day before the beginning of spring in the old calendar in Japan.[1][2] The name literally means 'seasonal division', referring to the day just before the first day of spring in the traditional calendar, known as Setsubun; though previously referring to a wider range of possible dates, Setsubun is now typically held on February 3 (in 2021 it was on 2nd February),[3] with the day after – the first day of spring in the old calendar – known as Risshun (立春). Both Setsubun and Risshun are celebrated yearly as part of the Spring Festival (Haru matsuri (春祭)) in Japan.[4] Setsubun was accompanied by a number of rituals and traditions held at various levels to drive away the previous year's bad fortunes and evil spirits for the year to come.[5][6]

  1. ^ Thacker, Brian (2005). The Naked Man Festival: And Other Excuses to Fly Around the World. Allen & Unwin. p. 61. ISBN 1-74114-399-3.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference sosnoski was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Dalby, Liza Crihfield (1983). Geisha. University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-04742-7.
  4. ^ "Religions – Shinto: Haru Matsuri (Spring festivals)". BBC. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference mie was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference dwc150119 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).