コラム 節分会
節分会は米国のお寺でも行います。誰でも自由に参詣でき年男年女は私の母の作った裃を着ます。
米国では節分の行事は二月第一日曜の午前中に行う事が多いのですが、この日の午後は最大のアメフトの試合、スーパーボールが行われます。私も含めてほとんどのアメリカ人が試合を見ているため、試合の合間に食べるバーベキューの準備が忙しくて、法要に参加するのを忘れてしまう人もいる程です。
こちらでも「鬼は外、福は内」と言うのは同じですが、家の内外ではなく、鬼に扮した人に豆を投げて家の外へ追い出します。また小さい豆は掃除が大変なので、代わりに殻付きのピーナッツを使います。これなら片付けも簡単で食べても安全です。法要の後はみんな福豆を家に持って帰り、一年の幸運を祈ります。
Setsubun is celebrated in America as well. Those born in the year of the zodiac wear kami-shimo that my mother made. The event is open to anyone and friends of members attend to participate in this event. On the first Sunday in February, everyone gathers at the temple. We hold service in the morning as this day is also Super Bowl, the championship game for football. All of America watches this game, including me. Sometimes it is difficult to get people to attend service since they are preparing barbeque meals to eat during the game.
We do throw beans and say “oniwa soto, fukuwa uchi”, but instead of leaving beans in the house entrance and throwing out beans, we have someone dress up as “oni” and toshi-otoko throw beans at that person and drive them out of the temple. Only problem with throwing beans is that they are small and clean-up is difficult. So instead of throwing beans, we throw peanuts still in the shell. That way it is easier to pick up and still safe to eat! After the service, everyone gets fukumae to take home.
