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Spring Equinox (Setsubun)

Setsubun is the day before the calendrical beginning of spring; it comes around the 4th of February. To drive away ill luck, it is customary to open doors and windows of a house and throw dried soy beans, which are thought to be effective in driving away evil spirits, calling out “oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” (out with the evil spirits; in with happiness). The custom of eating the number of dried beans corresponding to one’s age is continued today. Another custom observed in some places is eating an uncut eho-maki (lucky-direction rolled sushi) in silence, facing in the direction considered to be lucky that year (eho). That custom derives from the association of “rolling in” good luck and not “cutting ties.”

Related sites
Mini Encyclopedia, Teacher Support Information of Deai
http://www.tjf.or.jp/deai/contents/teacher/te_index.html

Reference site
「日本文化いろは事典」
http://iroha-japan.net/iroha/A05_zassetsu/01_setsubun.html

「語源由来事典」
http://gogen-allguide.com/se/setsubun.html