２月３日（金曜日）２０２３
立春の前日に行われる節分は、厄を払って新年を迎えるという儀式。多賀大社でも本日「節分祭」が行われ、今年還暦を迎える年男と年女の方々が赤い頭巾とかみしも姿で福豆を撒かれたようです。カフェにお見えになったお客様によると、観客は年男たちが撒いた福豆を競い合ってもらうのではなく、豆まきが終わった後で神社側が用意した袋に入った福豆と福餅を受け取るようになっていたそうです。これも感染対策らしいですが、少々寂しい気もいたします。
昨日、私はこの時期だけ神社で売られる厄除けのお札を買い求め、早速去年のものを新しいものに取り換えました。多賀大社近くで生まれ育ちながら、この厄除けのことは、２年ほど前に名誉宮司のNさんに教えていただくまで知りませんでした。黄色味がかった朱色が独特で厄除けの色だそうです。
子供の頃、節分の夜、兄たちが各部屋をまわって「福は内、福は内、鬼は外！」と言って豆まきをしていました。今もその声が聞こえてくるようです。
The Bean-Scattering called Setsubun is held the day before the beginning of Spring、 and it is for driving away evil and bringing in good luck for the new year. At Taga Taisha, Toshi-Otoko and Onna (men and women who were born in the same zodiac year and become 60 years old) did annual Mame-maki (scattered roast soybeans) in a special costume. However, usually spectators receive the soybeans from Toshi-Otoko and Onna, but according to the guest who came to my cafe, they received lucky beans and rice cake in a bag from the people in Shrine. This was because of protection from covid-19. I felt it was a little strange.
Yesterday I went to the shrine to get an amulet for warding off evil and put it over the entrance door. Even though I grew up near the shrine, I didn't know about it until Mr. N who used to be a head of the shrine, let me know. The yellowish red is the special color for warding off evil.
When I was a child, my elder brothers were scattering beans saying " Come in good luck! Go away evil!" on Setsubun night. I feel like I hear their voices in the house.
