Setsubun Festival
Today is Setsubun in Japan.
Setsubun celebrates the coming of Spring.
Setsubun Festivals are held in many places across Japan.
Here you can see the celebration at historical Gango-ji Temple
in Naramachi.
Saito Ohgoma-kuyo: People can walk on the cinders of the holy fire,
offering prayers to ward off evil and invite good luck.
Take care of the smoke and sparks from the fire!
Nara’s characters join in the throwing of beans.
“Sento-kun” “Naramachiko-chan” “Shikamaro-kun”
The beans are roasted soy beans, and people catch them
and take them home.
At home, people scatter beans inside and outside the house
to ward off ogres.
After throwing the beans, gather them all up
and eat the same number of beans as your age.
Eat one extra to keep you from sickness and stay healthy the whole year.
