Setsubun Festival at Abeno Oji Shrine.
It was as crowded as New Year's Eve.
I was surprised at how busy the shrine was. I had never visited a shrine on Setsubun before, so it was quite a culture shock.
A story about the other day's holiday.
I went to the Setsubun Festival at Abeno Oji Shrine. I thought about going to Abiko Kannon Temple, but I had to wait for the delivery of baked goods and prepare for business, so I went somewhere nearby.
When I arrived, there was a line in front of the shrine and a huge crowd inside the grounds. I was lucky enough to receive some lucky beans.
In front of the shop are soybean husks that have blown in from somewhere. As I walk between the houses, the smell of grilled fish wafts from here and there. When I go shopping, I see Ehomaki, Setsubun soba, sardines and other items lined up in a tight space, with people picking them up. It's got a certain charm to it...
When I was little, I didn't really like sardines or soybeans, and I also didn't like ehomaki with kanpyo or shiitake mushrooms. Our sardines were simmered with ginger, and in the past, we only had one type of ehomaki.
I used to think that Setsubun was a really unpleasant event, but as you get older your taste buds and sensibilities develop, and I've come to think that it's actually quite a good thing.
Cherishing seasonal events and customs such as the winter solstice, New Year's, and Setsubun can give you an opportunity to stop and reflect on your life, and it can also help align your mind and body.
Is it like a routine?
It's more fun if you know the origins of the event, but I think it's still a good thing even if you don't understand the meaning.
I was thinking about this while silently munching on a ehomaki.
No, maybe I'm not thinking about anything...
