Setsubun

On the first day of spring people throw beans at demons to ward them off. Eating a number of beans equal to your age (or your age plus one, depending on who you ask) will give you good luck in the coming year. I went to see a procession with a Tengu (this long nosed demon), and was gifted some beans by a toddler trying to keep me safe. I was touched.

Bye Barbara

p.s. the children get genuinely terrified by the demons, and run up screaming to throw their beans, then quickly away again.