節せつ分ぶん

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.

• 節せつ分ぶんには、豆まめをまいて鬼おにを追おい払はらいます。

  On Setsubun, we scatter beans to drive away the demons.

• 今年ことしの節せつ分ぶんは二に月がつ三みっ日かです。

  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.

• 昔むかしは、立りっ春しゅんの前ぜん日じつだけでなく、立りっ夏か・立りっ秋しゅう・立りっ冬とうの前ぜん日じつも節せつ分ぶんと呼よばれていた。

  In the past, not only the day before risshun but also the days before rikka, risshū, and rittō were called setsubun.