For Seniors: Wishing for Good Health — Handmade Setsubun Decoration Ideas
This time, we’re sharing handmade Setsubun decoration ideas for older adults.
Since Setsubun is a traditional event passed down through the ages, many of you have probably celebrated it before.
Setsubun marks the division between winter and spring.
People pray to “stay healthy for the year,” eat ehomaki to ward off misfortune, and throw beans to drive away evil.
When making Setsubun crafts, put your heart into wishing for good health, and have fun creating them together—chatting and laughing—with everyone at the nursing home or day service.
- [For Seniors] Fun and Easy Oni Crafts to Liven Up Setsubun: Simple, Enjoyable Ideas
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- [For Seniors] Fun February Crafts: Ideas Inspired by Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, and Other Events
- [Day Service] Setsubun decorations that bring smiles. Ideas for enjoying them with a variety of materials.
- [For Seniors] February Wall Decorations: Setsubun-Themed! Fun Ideas with Oni Demons and Ehomaki Sushi Rolls
- [For Seniors] Liven Up Setsubun Crafts! Handmade Ideas Using a Variety of Materials
- [For Day Service Centers] February Craft Ideas: Decorations for Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, and the Feeling of Spring
- [For Seniors] Recommended Wall Decorations and Crafts for January
- [For Seniors] Brighten Up Hinamatsuri: Wall Decoration Ideas
- For Seniors: Simple and Lovely Crafts – A Collection of Take-Home Project Ideas for Day Service
- [Day Service] Excited for Hinamatsuri! Craft ideas to brighten up your room
- For Seniors: Wall Decorations to Brighten Up February — Festive Ideas for Setsubun, Valentine’s Day, Plum Blossoms, and More
- For Seniors: Auspicious Handmade Zodiac Ornament Craft Ideas
[For Seniors] Wishing for Good Health: Handmade Setsubun Decoration Ideas (1–10)
Origami: Otafuku (Traditional Smiling Woman Mask)
Let’s make an Otafuku, a symbol of inviting good fortune, out of origami! Just like the oni (ogre), Otafuku is a classic decoration for Setsubun.
In Kyogen theater, she plays the role of lecturing the oni and guiding them to reform, making her an indispensable figure for Setsubun.
Her white, round cheeks and gentle smile are soothing, aren’t they? When making Otafuku with origami, it’s best to use paper that’s black on the front and white on the back.
With a single sheet, you can represent black hair and a white face.
Finish by drawing the face, and you’re done! Display her together with an oni to welcome a year full of good fortune.
Origami: Ogre
Let’s try making an ogre (oni) decoration with origami! Origami is wonderful because you can create a piece using just a single sheet of paper.
The standard is solid-colored origami, but these days there are many varieties, such as ones with traditional Japanese patterns or beautiful gradients.
Looking through different kinds of origami makes you feel excited, thinking, “What should I make next?” There are also many ways to fold an oni, ranging from simple to very advanced.
Choose your favorite paper and folding method to create a unique oni decoration!
Origami: holly sardine
Hiiragi-Iwashi is a traditional decoration made by skewering a sardine head onto a holly branch.
During Setsubun, which marks the changing of the seasons, it’s believed that demons can easily slip into our homes.
To ward them off, people have long displayed Hiiragi-Iwashi at their entrances.
Gathering the materials to make a real one can be quite difficult, so let’s try crafting one with origami instead! Make the sardine head, holly leaves, and stem separately, then combine them at the end—it’s simple.
This is especially recommended if you want a Setsubun decoration that’s a little different.
[For Seniors] Wishing for Good Health: Handmade Setsubun Decoration Ideas (11–20)
Setsubun garland
Originally referring to wreaths or flower crowns given as a sign of honor or victory, garlands are now popular as interior decorations made by connecting ornaments with string or wire.
If you make oni (demons) or Otafuku (the traditional smiling face) out of origami, link them with string, and hang them up, your room will instantly take on a Setsubun atmosphere.
By drawing original faces on the finished origami, you can create unique decorations that can only be seen in that particular place.
It’s a recommended craft activity that makes you look forward to Setsubun from the moment you start making it.
Perfectly round demon
Here are some ideas for making ogre (oni) decorations using construction paper and origami.
This project creates round-shaped oni, making it perfect if you want a cute wall display.
The process is simple: use a template to cut out the parts, then layer and glue them together.
For the pattern on the oni’s pants, tear origami paper into thin strips and apply them.
You can download the template from the video description.
Be sure to use it and try making Setsubun decorations.
Using a variety of colors will give you a bright, festive finish!
Hanging decorations for Setsubun made of felt
Felt Setsubun decorations are items that gently warm up your room with a cozy vibe during the cold season.
This idea features three handmade motifs: an eho-maki sushi roll, an oni (ogre), and a holly-and-sardine charm.
Once they’re finished, place felt balls between them, line them up, and attach them to a string to make a hanging decoration.
Since you only need to cut and glue the felt, it’s an easy project even if you’re not good at sewing.
Give it a try for inspiration, and brighten up your room beautifully.
Yarn: Making a Friendly Oni Wall Hanging
Decorate your room with an Oni theme to bring a Setsubun vibe.
In this idea, you wrap yarn around thick paper, then attach felt parts for the face and horns to make the oni.
After making a red oni and a blue oni, glue them onto a base; add holly leaves and a paper label with the word “Setsubun” to finish.
Decorate the four corners of the base with washi-pattern origami or tape, and place gem or pearl stickers in the empty spaces.
The impression changes depending on whether you use the square base as-is or rotate it into a diamond shape.
Punch a hole in the base, thread a red ribbon through, and finish it so it can be hung on the wall.