Setsubun actually signifies "the parting of the seasons;" especially nowadays it falls on about February 3, the day before the first day of spring. On the evening of this day, people yell, "Out with the ogre! In with the happiness!" while scattering parched soy beans inside and outside their homes. To pray for good health for that year, there is also the custom of eating only the number of soy beans as one's age. At temples and shrines, too, bean scattering is practiced on a grand scale.
February 11 is Kenkoku-kinen-no-hi and is a national holiday. Even though it is called "kenkoku"(National Founding), it is, unlike Independence Day of the United States, not a specific historical date. It is based on the myth that the first Emperor Jinmu ascended to the throne on February 11; and that day, it was decided, was the beginning of Japan. After the Second World War the observance was discontinued, because there was no historical basis for it, but in 1967 it was reinstated.
In Buddhist memorial services, offerings are made for the spirits of the dead and prayers said for the repose of their souls, but since ancient times there also have been held memorial services for other than human beings. For example, when a beloved animal has died and the things used for a long time has been broken or has become useless, a memorial services for those things is held because of the peculiarly Japanese way of thinking that, filled with feelings of grief and thanks, one should do memorial services.
Nowadays, familiarity with this appears to have faded, but the hari-kuyo carried out on February 8 and December 8 are typical of the practice. To do memorial services for break or bent up needles that have been used for a year, the sewing stops on that day, tofu or a paste made from devil's-tongue are pierced with the bent needles, offered to a Shinto shrine and buried in the earth.
Shunbun-no-hi occurs on about March 21, the day when the sun reaches the vernal equinox, and the length of day and night is equal. In Japan, it is designated as a national holiday for venerating nature and cherishing all kinds of life. The seven-day period, including the three days immediately before and after Shunbun-no-hi, is called the spring equinoctial week(higan). In /a>In Buddhism, higan indicates "the next world" or "paradise", and during this time even those who are not Buddhist believers visit graves. They clean up the gravesites, offer flowers and incense, and mourn for the spirits of the dead.
Ohagi is a traditional Japanese pastry. It is made by mixing together and cooking glutinous and nonglutinous rice, lightly squashing and molding this into balls, which are covered with bean jam, or else soybean flour or sesame seeds. This is an essential food twice a year, for the spring and autumn equinoctial weeks. Originally, it was made in the home to offer to the spirits of the ancestors, but now it is a typical Japanese confectionery.
Higan occurs twice a year and each lasts one week, with the Vernal(Equinox Days) and Autumn Equinox Days occurring in the middle of their respective weeks. In Buddhist terms, higan means "the other side of the river crossed by the dead," which means that, while this side is the world of the living, the other side is the world of the dead. In order to comfort the spirits of the ancestors on the other side, people visit graves during higan. By the way, it's generally called "ohigan," with a prefix "o" to make it sound polite.
Hina are small dolls for girls and have existed since the Heian Period(794-1185). They took their present form in the Edo Period(1603-1867). A "doll Emperor and Empress in ancient costume", patterned after the Emperor and Empress, are placed on the highest tier of a five- or seven-tiered stand covered with a red carpet, and under them come the "Minister of the Right, Minister of the Left", the "three court ladies", and the "five court musicians", among others. However, in recent times, more and more homes have simplified this by setting out only the Emperor and Empress dolls.
Hinamatsuri occurs on March 3 and is an occasion to pray for young girls' growth and happiness. Most homes with girls display dolls for the Doll's Festival and dedicate to them peach blossoms, rice cake cubes, special colored and diamond-shaped rice cakes, white sake, and other items. The origin of hinamatsuri is an ancient Chinese practice in which the sin of the body and misfortune are transferred to a doll and washed away by setting the doll in a river to drift away. When this practice spread to Japan, it was linked to girl's playing with dolls and, in the Edo Period(1603-1867), was developed into the hinamatsuri.
Hanami is going out to places such as parks to enjoy leisurely while appreciating the beautifully bloomed cherry blossoms. The custom in Japan, in March and April when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, is to do hanami with family, colleagues from work, or friends. People spread a mat under the cherry blossoms, drink sake, sing songs, and enjoy the coming of spring. In cities, viewing cherry trees in the evening is especially popular. Against the spring night sky, the beauty of the cherry blossoms in full bloom is abundantly emphasized.
April 29 is Midori-no-hi. This was the birthday of the Showa Emperor Hirohito who died in 1989 and, given his deep concern for the environment, the day has been renewed as a national holiday in the form of Midori-no-hi. This day ushers Japan into "Golden Week", a succession of holidays. May 3 is Constitution Day, the 4th is a National Holiday, the 5th is Children's Day, and, when Saturdays and Sundays are included, this week has more holidays than any other except for the New Year and summer vacations.