also: せちぶん · せちぶ
noun
Setsubun; last day of winter in the traditional calendar; bean-throwing festival
Refers specifically to the day before the beginning of spring (risshun), usually February 3 or 4, celebrated with mamemaki (bean scattering) to drive away evil spirits.
節分には、豆をまいて鬼を追い払います。
On Setsubun, we scatter beans to drive away the demons.
今年の節分は二月三日です。
This year's Setsubun is on February 3rd.
noun
last day of any season (traditional calendar)
Original meaning; now rare outside historical or technical contexts. Refers to the day before the start of each season (risshun, rikka, risshū, rittō) in the old lunisolar calendar.
昔は、立春の前日だけでなく、立夏・立秋・立冬の前日も節分と呼ばれていた。
In the past, not only the day before risshun but also the days before rikka, risshū, and rittō were called setsubun.
Obsolete reading; not used in modern Japanese.
Obsolete reading; not used in modern Japanese.
From the kanji 節 (season) and 分 (division), literally 'seasonal division'. Originally referred to the eve of each of the four seasons in the traditional lunisolar calendar, but now almost exclusively used for the spring Setsubun.