お昼前に友人のHさんが訪ねてくれて、お土産に立派な恵方巻きをいただきました。実は、恵方巻きのことは聞いたことはありましたが、実際に体験するのは初めてで、節分の日に縁起の良い南南東の方角を向いて無言で巻き寿司を丸ごと食べるのだそう。３種類の立派な太巻きは、それでもハーフサイズとか。Hさんと娘と私で好きな種類を選んで、美味しく頂きました。恵方巻きは私の子供のころにはなかった習慣で、大阪方面の商人が商売繁盛で始めたとのことですが、美味しい太巻き寿司にボストンから来てくれた娘はもちろん大喜び。Hさんには感謝です。
午後、リハビリがてら多賀大社に厄神斎のお札を買いに行ったら、ちょうど節分の豆まきの午後の部が始まるところで、境内は大勢の人で賑わっていました。還暦を迎えた皆様が赤い頭巾をかぶって、升に入った豆や福餅を撒くというおめでたい光景が見られたのは幸いでした。明日は立春。春が始まります。
My friend, H, visited me before noon bringing Eho-maki (thick sushi rolls which are believed to bring good fortune if eaten while facing the year's good luck direction). Actually I have heard about it, but I've never experienced it. Since H brought three kinds of thick maki, H, my daughter and I chose our favorite one, and ate it. It was so good. In my childhood, we didn't have such a custom. According to the net info., it was started by a merchant in Osaka in order to prosper their business. My daughter, who came from Boston, was very happy with such delicious rolling sushi. I thank H very much.
In the afternoon, I went to Taga Taisha with my daughter to buy Yakujinsai (an amulet of the year). Taking a walk would also be good for me. It was Setsubun (the day before the beginning of spring), and when we arrived at the shrine, Bean-Throwing by the people who celebrated their 60th birthday was just about to begin. A lot of people were gathering in order to get the bean or lucky mochi from the celebrated people who were putting on red hats. It was fun and lucky to be able to see such a seasonal celebration.
Tomorrow is the first day of spring in the calendar which we are looking forward to.
