JAPANESE HOUSEHOLDS– Setsubun (se-tsoo boon) is a Japanese holiday celebrated on February 3rd, since 706 AD. Depending on the calendar, the date can change to February 2nd. This is a holiday that is celebrated to mark the end of winter and welcome in the spring, full of happiness and luck.
On this day, someone wears a mask of a demon, which is called “Oni” in Japanese. Others will get roasted beans and throw them at the oni. This is called “Mame maki”(mah-meh mah-key). While doing this, we shout, “Oniwa soto, fuku wa uchi! (oh-nee wah soh-toh, foo-koo wah oo-chee),” which means “Demon out, luck in.” We do this to scare away the demon, with its bad luck, and welcome the good luck for the upcoming spring. After throwing the beans, you eat a number of beans corresponding to your age, plus one for good health. Later we eat an uncut sushi roll called Ehomaki (e-ho ma-kee) while facing the “lucky direction” of the year. This year for 2026, the direction was south-southeast. When you eat the Ehomaki, you must eat in complete silence, or it is bad luck. But not everyone celebrates the same way.
TH shares how he celebrates in a little bit of a different way. “We eat the Ehomaki first, then we go do the mamemaki, and eat the beans.”
AG says, “We celebrate setsubun every year. Our kids love this event because they get to throw their beans at their dad, who is always the demon.”
ERO commented, “Setsubun is a very fun holiday, and the food is delicious.”
Setsubun is a very fun Japanese holiday, but there are many more, waiting to be celebrated.
Lennon Shirazi • Feb 10, 2026 at 4:58 pm
So cool to learn about a Holiday I’ve never heard of! Thank you for this amazing article! I won’t miss it next time!!