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February 3rd • Luck & Folklore

Setsubun (Japan)

The day before the beginning of spring in Japan, Setsubun is a festival for driving away evil spirits and welcoming good luck. The most famous ritual involves throwing roasted soybeans (mamemaki) while shouting 'Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!' (Demons out! Luck in!). This lesson explores the psychology of luck and superstition, the role of myth in modern urban life, and how ancient rituals evolve into playful family traditions.

A Japanese temple representing the traditions of Setsubun

Speaking Discussion

  • Do you consider yourself a superstitious person? Do you have any small rituals or habits you perform for good luck?
  • Why do you think humans across all cultures created the concept of demons or evil spirits? What do these myths represent today?
  • In your opinion, is it important for children to grow up with myths and legends, or should we focus exclusively on scientific facts?
  • How has the celebration of Setsubun changed from an ancient spiritual ritual to a modern, commercialised family event?
  • Do you believe that luck is something we create through our own mindset and actions, or is it purely a matter of random chance?
  • What is the most unusual tradition you have ever heard of for bringing good luck into a home or a new year?
  • Should we preserve ancient traditions that involve driving away evil, or do they promote negative thinking in a modern world?

Activity 1: The luck Experiment

The Task: You are a Psychologist. Design a 3-step experiment to see if lucky charms actually help students perform better on English exams.

from the sidebar.

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences

Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.

  • "The luckiest thing that ever happened to me was..."
  • "I think superstitions are..."
  • "In my opinion, traditions survive because..."