節分・旧正月 / Setsubun & Chinese New Year

今日は節分。そして旧正月の元旦にもあたりますね。昔は、節分はもっぱら豆まきで、恵方巻にかじりつく習慣はあまり見られませんでした。でも最近はこの恵方巻がだんだん人気を得、豆まき危しらしいです。
さて、後ろのあでやかなカードは、シンガポールに住む中国系マレーシア人の友人から届いた、日本で言ういわゆる「旧正月」の年賀カードです。中国では、今でも旧暦の正月の方が主役で、爆竹で賑やかに祝います。"新年好"

Today in Japan is "Setsubun"--a divide of season, which means winter ends today and spring will arrive tomorrow, actually according to the lunar calender. We do some activities to get rid of demons and welcome good luck on this occasion, like throwing roasted beans shouting "Demns out, good luck in" or biting into a long sushi roll called "Ehoumaki" facing to a certain direction which changes every year, this year "south south east". I don't know why we are supposed to face to a certain direction, but it's nice to eat a big sushi roll anyway.
Today happens to be a New Year's Day on the lunar calender and I've got a New Year's Card from a Chinese-Malaysian friend living in Singapore. "新年好"