Mamemaki

February 3rd is Setsubun in Japan. We recognize this day as a beginning of spring and we perform a special ritual to get rid of evil spirit from our home, which is called Mamemaki (bean scattering).

2月3日は節分です。今年もうちで小さな豆まきです。

Ellie and Julia made their own Oni which is a representation of evil spirit. Daddy wore the Oni that Ellie made and became Oni. And all of us threw beans at him. For cleaning purpose, Mommy was trying very hard not to throw too much beans, but girls didn't want to listen. I guess it was too much fun since they don't get to do that type of things too often.

エリとジュリアが鬼のお面を作りました。今年はエリ作の鬼をダディーが被り、みんなで鬼に向かって豆まきです。マミーは家の中で豆を散らかされたくなかったので「ちょっとだけよ！」といっておいたのですが、始まってみたらそんな言葉、完全無視…。小さな手につかみきれんばかりの豆を握り、鬼に向かって投げつけているエリとジュリアでした。

These are Ellie and Julia's original Oni. Of course Ellie's Oni is in yellow, her favorite color. We tried to have Julia wear her own Oni, but she didn't want to (and we should not have forced her to...)

エリとジュリア作の鬼です。エリの鬼はもちろん大好きな黄色。ジュリアはなぜか青。ジュリアにも被ってもらってのツーショット写真が欲しかったのですが、ものすごい勢いで拒絶されてしまいました…。