Setsubun at Akama Shrine

Setsubun is the day before the begining of spring according to the lunar calendar (it was sooo cold though, and started snowing during our visit to the shrine!). We were given hot bean tea, long choco cereal type candies, and lots of toasted beans for eating and throwing at the oni (demons).
On this evening (February 3rd), people are supposed to throw beans to drive evil spirits out of their homes. Then you are supposed to eat the same number of beans as your age to have good health during the year. I guess that often the dad in a household dresses up like the oni, then the kids have fun throwing beans at him. At the shrine the kids were throwing beans at each other and anyone else who didn't protest. The oni were very scary looking, and once they came out lots of the younger kids started crying!

with the oni


these look a bit funny because they're pictures of my real pictures: