Setsubun
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Although it occurs on February 3rd or 4th,
setsubun is a festival to welcome spring
and clear away winter cold and gloom. Before
1873 Japan used the lunar calendar, where
the numbering of the months was about 6 weeks
behind that of the modern solar calendar,
hence the festival occurs in deepest winter.
Several rituals are observed on this day,
for example there is a custom of opening
the doors and windows of houses and expelling
bad luck and demons by throwing beans in
the air and shouting gFuku wa uchi, oni
wa sotoh(gfortune in and demons outh)
. It is also said that by eating the numbers
of beans equivalent to your age, you will
be healthy over the coming year.
