It seems that winter on the eastern seaboard couldn’t take its leave without having its last hurrah before spring came. Hopefully, the recent snow storm will be the last of this season and we can start looking forward to warmer days. According to the old Japanese calendar, sometime between February 2 to 4 is an important seasonal division, Setsubun (節分). This year, it happens to fall on the same day as Groundhog Day. While the two holidays both concern spring, one cannot be equated with the other. Meaning ‘seasonal せつ division ぶん’, setsubun technically happens four times a year but it also signified the new year in the lunar calendar. So it has popularly come to only refer to the day before the first day of spring.
In addition to roasted soybeans, the practice of eating Ehomaki, or a Lucky Direction Roll, has also grown in popularity. You can find these thick, uncut sushi rolls at supermarkets and convenience stores across Japan. In New York City, there are several Japanese grocery stores that are making them limited to today, February 2. For those of you who would like to try this tradition for yourself, follow these directions: Step 1: sport your kimono or hakama from the Kimono House to set the scene, 2. face this year’s lucky direction of South South East with your ehomaki, 3. keep silent until you finish the whole roll (or your luck will flee!), and 4. think of your wish for the year while you are silently eating.
Happy bean throwing and silent eating!