節分Setsubun! Throwing Beans and Burning stuff

 節分Setsubun

Setsubun's is celebrated on February 3, or 4 which is the beginning of the spring, according to the Japanese lunar calender. Meaning, 'seasonal division' setsubun is a special holiday in Japan that is widely celebrated. 

Before I explain the demons and the beans and the burning of shit I must say that I participated in setsubun in Nagasaki, Japan. Holidays in other parts of Japan differ sometimes and some of the things I did in Nagasaki may not happen in Honshu or Hokkaido. 

Setsubun is the time of year that you buy some beans, give your kids demon masks, and pelt them with beans. Back in the day, people would throw beans at demons to drive them away and with the evil spirits gone, good fortune would come your way. 

However, these evil spirits can be driven away with loud noises like the taiko drums, and from the smoke of burning wood. 

"Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!"

Demon's out! Happiness in!

As you yell this and throw around the beans, afterwards you are supposed to eat as many beans as your age. However, I didn't see anyone do this :/ but that could be another case of Japan half-assing their culture. 

 A bunch of monks set up this and prayed for the demons to vacate the premises.

While they're asking the demons to leave people take it upon themselves to burn items in their house that may bring bad spirits in or if they missed trash day. 

Last but not least, it got wild. 

The Day of the Sea

海の日 umi no hi, sea day is a national holiday in Japan celebrated every third monday of July. Umi no Hi is celebrating the return of the Meiji Emperors return from Hokkaido, also this day was named to give appreciation to the ocean for everything it provides people and because Japan is an island nation the sea is very representative of them. Locals take this day to go to the ocean usually, since its celebrated in July the beaches are bomb and the weather in humid as hell! In some places in Japan umi no hi is celebrated by rowing boats decorated with lanterns and paper kite fish into the ocean. 
There are many aspects to Japan's culture that make the Japanese respectful of the environment. Holidays like Ocean Day reflect the morals and mentally of Japan as a nation; having a day that apperciates the ocean for providing food, surrounding their country, and for fun.