Setsubun literally means “the day that separates seasons,” and originally there are four Setsubun days in a year, but today, the day that separates “winter” and “spring” is recognized as the only “Setsubun” by most Japanese people.

In the Japanese (or Chinese) lunar calendar, spring is said to start on February 4, which is called “Risshun” in Japanese.

Anyway, February 3 is the day Japanese people consider as “Setsubun.”

On the Setsubun day, many Japanese people perform a ritual where they throw roasted soy beans in the house, and also toward the outside of the house, calling, “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!”

It means, “Evils, get out! Happiness, come in!”

It may sound a little strange to you that people throw beans inside their houses.

They usually clean the house or wipe the floors beforehand, so that they can collect the beans again and eat them later.

It is said that you should eat as many beans as the number of your age plus “1,” and it will bring you fortune.

For example, if you are “17” years old now, it means you should eat “18” beans.

Now, I have to go and buy some soy beans for my husband and myself.

We are going to need a lot of soy beans!!!