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Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" (鬼は外! 福は内!).
In Japan, Setsubun (節分) is the day before the beginning of each season. Usually the term refers to the Spring Setsubun, properly called Risshun (立春), which is celebrated yearly on February 3 (associated with the Lunar New Year).
Setsubun is traditionally celebrated by the head of the household throwing pan-heated soybeans (called irimame) out the door, while chanting "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" (鬼は外! 福は内!). The literal meaning of the words is "Demons out! Luck in!" -- the beans are thought to symbolically purify the home.
In the Heian era, a famous Buddhist monk was said to have driven away Oni (Oni (鬼) demons or evil spirits) by throwing beans.
Families will also put up small decorations of fish heads and holly leaves on their house entrances so that bad spirits will not enter. People eat the same amount of soy beans as their age, plus one for bringing good luck for the year to come.
posted by Message from Japan on Friday, February 02, 2007
