Yes, it’s that time of year again, and the shrines and temples will be open on Feb 3 (some on Feb 2) for bean throwing to dispel the demons that accumulate in the long dark nights of winter.
A demon appears in a kyogen play put on at Mibu Temple
What’s it all about? Green Shinto has written of the occasion in previous years:
– an explanation of why beans feature so prominently
– Wikipedia’s take and pictures of Kyoto events
– some interesting background facts
– a description of the Yasaka Shrine event
– a photo account of the Shimogamo event
A fresh take on the festival can be found at this site written by Shinto-Pagan Megan Manson. Along with other thoughts on the subject, she links the tradition with the Celtic festival of Imbolc:
“Indeed, Imbolc and Setsubun have much in common, right down to their basic theme of purity and new beginnings. I have heard several Pagans mention that to them Imbolc feels more like “New Year” than Samhain or Yule, and the Japanese might agree. Setsubun does in fact have its origins in the old Lunar Calendar of Japan, in which New Year fell at the beginning of spring.”
The pioneering path that Megan is forging, in combining the spiritual traditions of East and West, shows the way forward in terms of connections and commonality. In a global age, the recovery of ancient traditions in this way promises to give birth to a new kind of universalism that is rooted in a worldwide reverence for nature. As we look forward to the promise of spring, Megan brings us hope for an interfaith future.
At Yasaka Jinja you not only get a chance to catch good luck beans tossed by the maiko but to photo them too
Spring is in the air… and the plum blossom is out early this year.
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