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Published: February 7th 2007
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Oni wa sotou!
"Oni wa sotou!" is basically shouting "Get out devil!" The kids chant it as they whip beans at the devils. Every Friday morning I start my weekends off by visiting a kindergarten or day care center for the 3 hours before lunch (when my weekend technically begins). Visiting the kindergartens is enough fun to be considered a vacation, and this week it was even more vacation-like because we celebrated the Japanese holiday
Setsubun . I have attached a better description of
setsubun below, but I also want to explain my experience... because it was definitely cultural!
So on Friday morning after singing a few English songs with the kids they were asked to get out their handmade masks (which were about to protect them from the lurking devil or
oni as it is called in Japanese.) Soooo cute! These masks ranged from colorful circles which framed their faces, to full out piles of construction paper piled on their heads. I think the babies might have been my favorite because they were given cut-outs of eyes, mouth, etc. and then glued them on all by themselves.... in very, very random patterns! Once fully protected behind their new masks everyone was given a pep talk to ensure them that no one would actually be 'eaten' by
this nasty
oni , and then they were led into the hall to wait for his arrival.
Well, everything went downhill from there... the
oni arrived and threw himself angrily across the floor toward them, and the majority of my brave devil fighters burst into tears! Haha. It was very cute, but I couldn't help but wonder (as I am trying to calm the trembling girls in the corner) why such horrifying holidays are celebrated in the kindergartens. Within 5 minutes I knew my answer.... after the braver kids had whipped their soy beans at the
oni and forced him to leave the room he returned within 60 seconds to apologize for being a bad devil and was befriended by all (except for the really scared ones who hadn't quite worked up the nerve to open their eyes!). LOL, what an experience!
Traditionally, the children are supposed to yell "Oni wa soto!" or "Get out devill!", but I think my students were a bit to young and frightened to make any noises other than screaming (or crying). All in all, the older ones really enjoyed it, but the younger ones (I guess still in
training) were so horrified that they probably all had nightmares on Friday night. Nothing like being cultured!
Enjoy the pics... and sorry they are only small but I didn't have my digital camera with me so these are from my phone's camera.
HAPPY/SCARY
SETSUBUN !
DESCRIPTION OF SETSUBUN Japan has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The term setsubun originally referred to the days marking the change from one season to the next, so that there were four of them, but today only the day before risshun (the beginning of spring in the traditional Japanese calendar) is called by that name. Setsubun comes on either February 3 or 4, depending on the year.
Men dressed in goblin costumes chase the children around, while the kids throw beans from their masu. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
On the night of Setsubun, many households do mame-maki - a bean-throwing ceremony. They fill a masu (a wooden measuring cup) with roasted soybeans and throw the beans all about the room, shouting "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" meaning "Out with the goblins and in with fortune!" They also open the windows and throw the beans outside. Mame-maki began as a New Year ceremony (in the traditional Japanese calendar) to drive out evil spirits and the seeds of misfortune, as well as to pray for the family's well-being and good business.
After the mame-maki is over, everyone eats the same number of beans as their own age. It is believed that by doing so, people will be free of sickness during that year.
Families with little children especially look forward to this day because mame-maki can be a lot of fun. One person acts as the goblin and runs around, while the others throw beans at the person. At some schools, the students make goblin masks and enjoy mame-maki.
Thanks to the great fun of mame-maki, Setsubun is still a popular traditional event.
**http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/calendar/february/setsubun.html**
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MOM
non-member comment
Cute !
The comments under the photos are priceless ! Maybe your Dad and I should come dressed in green when we visit your schools aren’t we ALIEN devils? LOL