1st of the 24 solar terms
Risshun (the beginning of spring)
The arrival of spring.
The season has begun.
Risshun is the first of the 24 solar terms .
Although it is still cold in winter, it is gradually getting warmer and you can feel the spring air everywhere.
The next solar term after "Risshun" is "Usui," which marks the beginning of spring.
Risshun is the day when the seasons begin and also the start of a new year. For this reason, shrines all over the country hold Risshun festivals and many other auspicious events.
Now, let us introduce some events that take place around the time of the beginning of spring.
1. Risshun (the beginning of spring)
In the Gregorian calendar, there is New Year's Eve before New Year's Day.
Setsubun is on the first day of spring.
In today's Japan, the culture of celebrating the beginning of spring and the Lunar New Year has diminished, with the Setsubun tradition of eating ehomaki and throwing beans becoming more familiar. Culture and lifestyles have changed rapidly in recent years, and environmental issues have also become a major focus of attention, but even as society as a whole changes, people feel more grateful for the cycle of the seasons and the universality of nature.
Our lives are always enriched by the seasons and culture. Let's enjoy another year like this.
◆Celebration [Spring]◆
As part of the New Year's celebration culture, Risshun is often associated with bringing good fortune and warding off evil.
This auspicious name celebrates the beginning of spring and brings good fortune.
●Daikichi of Spring●
The vertically written "Risshun Daikichi" characters are also "Risshun Daikichi" when read backwards. If you hang this sign at your front door, it is said that if a demon enters your house, it will mistake it for the outside world and leave, so it is used as a talisman to ward off evil spirits.
●First morning pressing●
This auspicious sake is made by pressing the mash all night long from the night of Setsubun, and then having the freshly pressed raw sake purified at a shrine in the early morning of the first day of spring.
●First Fresh Sweets●
Japanese sweets made on the first day of spring are called "Risshun Namagashi." A typical example is "Risshun Daikichi Mochi." Red beans and mochi are said to have the power to ward off impurities, and the round shape of mochi symbolizes bringing things to a smooth conclusion. It is considered auspicious if you eat them all on the same day.
●Risshun tofu●
When eaten on Setsubun, it is said to ward off various evil spirits, and when eaten on Risshun, it is called Risshun Daikichi Tofu, and is said to bring health into the body and bring happiness.It is said that when eaten on Setsubun and Risshun, it is best to eat it while it is still "white," so it is recommended to eat it with salt instead of soy sauce.
2. Hatsuuma (First Day of the Horse)
On the first day of the horse after the beginning of spring, the Hatsuuma Festival is held in grand style at Inari shrines across the country.
This day is considered a festival day for Inari Shrine, as it is the day when the enshrined deity of Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in Kyoto descended from the sky. Farmers widely worship Inari as the rice god, as the word "Inari" comes from "rice growing ." They also pray for prosperity in business and safety in the home.
There is also a custom of eating "oinari-san" at the Hatsuuma Festival.
Foxes are enshrined at Inari shrines as messengers of the gods, and offerings of fried tofu, a favorite food of foxes, have become popular. This influence seems to explain why in eastern Japan it is called "inari sushi," and in western Japan it tends to be called "Oinari-san."
In 2023, Hatsuuma Day will be on Sunday, February 5th.
3. Displaying Hina dolls
The Peach Festival, a cultural event in which Hina dolls are displayed to celebrate the healthy growth of children, is held every year on March 3rd.
◆When do you start displaying Hina dolls?◆
It is said that it is best to display Hina dolls after Setsubun, a turning point in the seasons, between the beginning of spring and the next solar term, Usui . It is also said that the days after Setsubun (after demons have been exorcised) are auspicious.
Is it not okay to decorate from January?
Some people consider it unlucky because it falls on the edge of March.
* "March hanging" is said to be bad luck as it means that if it lasts for three months, you will have hardships all the time. However, there are some areas where festivals are celebrated according to the lunar calendar, so there is no need to worry about "March hanging".
◆My Hina Doll for yourself◆
There is no age limit for displaying Hina dolls, and many people take them with them when they get married, as they are meant to take on the misfortunes of their wives. In recent years, women of all ages have begun displaying them for themselves as seasonal decorations, known as "My Hina Dolls," in addition to girls.
4. Climate
As the saying goes, "The beginning of spring" and the seasons gradually begin to change, many expressions related to the weather are also characteristic of this time of year.
First spring breeze
The first spring wind is the first southerly wind that blows over a wide area between the beginning of spring and the vernal equinox. If the temperature rises after this wind blows, it is recognized as the first spring wind. It is one of the well-known signs of spring.
◆Rain after the cold
Rain after the cold season ends refers to rain that falls around the time of the beginning of spring, about a month after the onset of cold in January.
◆Return of cold weather
A cold snap is a temporary return of cold weather towards the end of spring, when it has become quite warm. It is called a cold snap when temperatures drop some time after the beginning of spring. It is often caused by low pressure systems that occur on the Sea of Japan side, and is a phenomenon that tends to occur in the latter half of April.
5. "Spring is bitter" - Eat seasonal foods
Eating seasonal foods is thought to be very logical for our bodies, which live according to the seasons.
As the saying goes, "spring is bitter," eating bitter spring wild vegetables is an important factor in expelling waste and fat that has accumulated in the body during the winter , and preparing the body for the early spring climate.
The representative of the beginning of spring is butterbur. The small heads of butterbur peeking out from the snow in early spring have a unique fragrance and a refreshing bitter taste. Other spring vegetables include mitsuba (Japanese parsley) with roots and snow peas. As for fish, whitebait, Spanish mackerel, and herring are representative of spring. Be sure to incorporate at least one seasonal dish into your meal.
6. Celebrations of Spring Around the World
February is known worldwide as the month with the most festivals, and celebrating the arrival of spring has become an established part of culture and events, as it is said to bring good harvests and good health throughout the year.
In Europe and the United States, this day is also celebrated as a day to welcome spring.
Risshun, which marks the beginning of spring, is a day when people celebrate the day when Jesus Christ, 40 days after his birth, visited the temple with the Virgin Mary, and it is customary to burn a Christmas tree to mark the end of the Christmas season.
Carnivals are also held around the world as an event to celebrate the arrival of spring. "Carnival" refers to a carnival, and was originally a spring festival to pray for fertility and abundance. Before Easter, there is a period of abstinence called "Lent," and carnivals are grand feasts held before this period begins. Examples include the Rio Carnival and the Nice Carnival. The Venice Carnival and the Nice Carnival are examples of this.
6. National Foundation Day
February 11th is Japan's National Foundation Day.
National Foundation Day is a day to celebrate the establishment of the foundation of the nation.
It was established in 1966 as a day to commemorate the founding of the nation and foster love for one's country.
February 11th is the day that the first emperor, Emperor Jimmu, ascended to the throne.
Emperor Jimmu is a character who appears in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, Japan's oldest historical texts, which describe the birth of the gods and the country (land) of Japan. For this reason, it can be said that "National Foundation Day" is a day to commemorate the event itself, regardless of the founding of the country based on historical facts.
It has been 2,681 years since the founding of Japan.
National Foundation Day is celebrated in countries all over the world, and the dates and names of these celebrations are unique in that they are derived from the history of the country's founding.
〇China (National Day)
China's National Day is October 1st, known as "National Day." It originates from the day Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the Chinese state at Tiananmen Square on October 1st, 1949. While the country has a long history, as they say, "China has a 4,000-year history," it seems that the date on which modern China was founded is not thought to be the same as the length of history. In China, the week surrounding National Day is a major holiday, and on National Day itself, firecrackers are set off and events are held all over China.
〇America (Independence Day)
In the United States, July 4th is designated as "Independence Day." This comes from the day the Declaration of Independence was signed at the Continental Congress in 1776. Independence Day is also called "Independence Day," and the week leading up to it is filled with excitement and events such as fireworks and concerts across the United States.
France (Bastille Day)
France's National Day is Bastille Day, which falls on July 14th. The day originates from the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14th, 1789, which marked the beginning of the French Revolution and the release of political prisoners, and which symbolized for the people the end of absolute monarchy and the beginning of a republic. On July 14th, fireworks are launched all over France, and a military parade is held in Paris.
The time of the beginning of spring is represented in the 72 seasonal divisions as follows:
First sign: East wind thaws (harukaze koori wo ku)
February 4th to February 8th, 2023
The spring winds begin to melt the ice on rivers and lakes.
In the bitter cold, butterbur flowers start to peek out from the snow-covered ground one by one. It's a joyous time, as it gradually signals the approach of spring.
Next Phase 2: The Yellow Nightingale Sings
February 9th to February 13th, 2023
When the Japanese bush warblers start singing in the mountain village
The song of the nightingale heralds the arrival of early spring. It is one of Japan's three most melodious birds, and it is said that just hearing its song will bring good fortune.
At the beginning of spring, their songs are shaky, but as spring progresses, they become more beautiful. Also, Japanese bush warblers visit plum trees to drink the nectar from the blossoms, and this sight is so picturesque that it has given rise to the proverb "Ume ni Uguisu" (plum blossoms and a bush warbler). This is used as an example of something that is beautifully harmonious.
Last Sign, Third Sign: Fish and Ice
February 14th to February 18th, 2023
When fish jump through the cracked ice
