annown: Setsubun

節分際吉田神社

Of the events celebrating the arrival of the lunar new year - "setsubun" in Japanese - the bonfire at Kyoto's Yoshida Shrine is the largest.

It is held from the evening of February 3rd until early the following morning.

Both sides of the street leading up to the torii gate at the entrance are lined with festival stalls, one of which is pictured here. The street bisects Kyoto University.

The stalls are popular with families that make up most of the visitors early on. They sell food and drinks, and offer old-time games.

From around 10 pm, though, the crowd thins and those left congregate around the massive bonfire within the grounds of the shrine.

Revelers bring old clothes and items they wish to dispose of, and throw them into the fire. The act is symbolic and cleansing.

The fire is finally put out and pulled down around 3 am. Most head home after that, but some of the stall sellers - a bit too drunk for their own good - always seem to end up fighting.

京都の節分祭

Kyoto plays host to a number of interesting setsubun festivals on February 3rd each year. This auspicious day is one day before Risshun, which is the first day of spring according to the lunar calendar.

In ceremonies, first imported from China centuries ago, devils (oni) and ill-fortune were symbolically driven out by a four-eyed shaman, Hososhi, who drove the demons away from the four cardinal directions. This ritual exorcism was later replaced by bean-throwing, where the devils were driven off with shouts of "oni wa soto; fuku wa uchi" (demons out; fortune in). This tradition continues in households throughout the country using roasted soy beans.

Setsubun festivals are held at Heian Jingu (3rd Feb), Rozanji Temple (3rd Feb), featured on the video below), Shimogamo Shrine (3rd Feb), Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (3rd Feb), Yoshida Shrine (2nd-4th Feb), Mibu-dera Shrine (2nd-4th Feb), Yasaka Shrine (2nd-3rd Feb), Shogo-in Temple (2nd-3rd Feb) and Senbon Enma-do Temple (2nd-3rd Feb).

Kyoto's geisha and maiko community is out in force during setsubun to scatter beans and perform dances.

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Setsubun Festival Yoshida Shrine Kyoto

Setsubun Festivals in Kyoto