SETSUBUN: THE ARRIVAL OF THE JAPANESE SPRING

Although at the luxury 5-star hotel Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, you can enjoy pleasant Mediterranean weather all year round, we know that in other places you cannot wait for the good weather to arrive.

In many Asian countries, people still work and live according to the ancient calendar which has 24 seasons dividing the changes in weather.

Within these 24 seasons, the spring is the first one. It starts in February, and in Japanese is called “Risshun” which means the arrival of spring.

The day before the beginning of Risshun they celebrate the “Setsubun”, a festival which marks the seasonal division. In ancient times, Setsubun took place 4 times a year marking the arrival of the main 4 seasons we all know, but nowadays it only takes place once a year to leave the harsh winter behind and welcome the spring.

On Setsubun the “Mame-Maki” is celebrated, a Chinese tradition meaning throwing soya grains. According to this tradition, the soya grains must be toasted and are thrown to scare demons away. This tradition is carried out inside the houses as people shout “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi!” which means something like out demons, get in good fortune.

It is also held in most temples, although in a more impressive way as famous and important people are invited. They throw the toasted soya at the attendees only as a symbol of good luck, as demons do not come near temples.

If hit by soya grains, as well as being lucky, they shall be blessed with health and happiness, and throughout the year, they shall have to eat as many soya grains as their age.

Another tradition on this Setsubun day is to eat “Eho-maki” which means lucky direction roll. Eho-maki is a type of thick sushi, rolled in dry algae (“nori”), and filled with carrot, eel, cucumber, and Japanese omelette among other ingredients. It must be eaten without breaking it and facing in the right direction, different every year, in order to preserve good luck.

At the Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, you shall enjoy a pleasant atmosphere full of good fortune, and a great temperature all year round. You will forget all about cold winters for a few days. Come visit us!