Japanese Festivals Tomomi - Berrin How many Japanese festivals are held each year?

https://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/matsuri-list#:~:text=Each%20year%20there%20are%20200%2C000%20festivals%20in%20Japan. It's not known exactly how many Japanese festivals are held each year.

A reasonable estimate is 200,000 festivals.

https://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/matsuri-list#:~:text=Each%20year%20there%20are%20200%2C000%20festivals%20in%20Japan. Japan has religious festivals, fire festivals, dance festivals, snow festivals, music festivals and performance festivals.

https://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/matsuri-list#:~:text=Each%20year%20there%20are%20200%2C000%20festivals%20in%20Japan. Setsubun The bean-throwing festival

One of the Haru Matsuri (Spring festivals) Setsubun is a festival held on February 2, 3 or 4, one day before the start of spring according to The Japanese lunar calender.

We celebrate the coming of spring, even though it's still so cold outside. Setsubun (節分) is a fun festival

Symbols of The Festival

Evil mask Soybeans Hiiragi Iwashi Ehomoki Grilled Sardine Soybeans are one of the most important foods for this festival.

Soybeans Soybeans are roasted before throwing.

If you like, you can buy them already roasted. Throwing the soybeans to drive away the previous bad luck or evil spirits and welcome to good luck for the new year. As we throw the beans, we say "Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi"

"Oni" means devil or demon in Japanese.

It's common for someone to dress up or to wear a mask of the red demon. It's a lot of fun for children to throw roast soybeans

Children throw beans at the demon until he leaves!

In my house, when my daughters were young, my husband acted a demon for example. He kept chasing even if the children threw beans. We enjoyed this event. After the activity, everyone eats the same number of soybeans as their age. Since I'm 50, I have to eat 50 beans, but it's too much for me.

I ate 1 bean for every decade.

5 beans + 5 decade = 50 soybeans 10 years 10 years 10 years 10 years 10 years Setsubun's special meal is Ehomaki.

Ehomaki is a seasonal sushi roll that's believed to bring good luck.

It is said to be good luck to use the seven ingredients which are related to the seven gods when preparing Ehomaki. Ehomaki Most Common Ingredients; shiitake mushrooms and kanpyo (dried gourd), cucumber, rolled egg, eels, sweet fish powder and prawns.

These ingredients represent good health, happiness, and prosperity. Rolling the fillings means good fortune. Hiiragi Iwashi / Holly Sardine • Hiiragi Iwashi is a cooked sardine head attached to a holly branch. • It is attached to the exterior of the house, usually next to the front door. • Demons, which bring illness and Hiiragi Iwashi poverty, are said to dislike sardine’s strong smell, and they fear getting their eyes poked by the sharp points on holly leaves. Lunar calendar

The lunar calendar uses the moon phases to measure time, usually measuring the time from new moon to new moon as one month. Since each lunation is approximately ​29 1⁄2 days, it is common for the months of a lunar calendar to alternate between 29 and 30 days.

Various features of the lunar 子 (Ne): Rat calendar have remained intact in 丑 (Ushi): Ox 寅 (Tora): Tiger today's Japan. 卯 (U): Rabbit 辰 (Tatsu): Dragon 巳 (Mi): Snake For example, years are still 午 (Uma): Horse 未 (Hitsuji): Sheep commonly associated with 申 (Saru): Monkey the twelve animals: 酉 (Tori): Rooster 戌 (Inu): Dog 亥 (Inoshishi): Boar Meaning of animals

Rat: Friendly Ox: Patient and hard working Tiger: Brave and has a strong sense of justice Rabbit: Skilful, popular and sociable Dragon: Energetic, warm-hearted and romantic Snake: Charming and smart (intelligent) Horse: Energetic and has excellent dramatic ability Sheep: Mild-mannered and peace-loving Monkey: Funny, energetic and active Rooster: Clever and able to foresee the future Dog: Good listener, caring and responsible Boar: Loving, honest and kind Thank you Tomomi - Berrin