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.
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- [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
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- 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 (41–50)
Making Ehomaki and Oni Figurines
When it comes to Setsubun, we think of ehomaki and oni (ogres).
Ehomaki are eaten to pray for good fortune, and oni are driven away as a form of warding off evil.
In this craft idea, an ehomaki is made by lining a toilet paper roll with black origami paper and filling it with “rice” and “ingredients” made from tissue paper.
The oni is made by cutting a toilet paper roll into rings, shaping them into squares, covering them with red felt, adding yarn hair, and gluing on horns made from chopsticks sharpened with a pencil sharpener.
Arrange the ehomaki and the oni on a base along with a box of beans, and you’ll have a lovely Setsubun decoration.
Handmade Setsubun wreath with yarn
Here’s an idea for making a wreath using yarn balls.
First, crumple tissues into balls and wrap yarn around them.
These will become oni (demon) faces, and you’ll connect the faces to form the wreath, so make as many as needed for your desired size.
Create the oni faces and horns by cutting pieces from felt and gluing them on.
You can make all the balls into oni faces, or mix in designs inspired by their iconic pants patterns and beans.
Finally, add plum blossoms made from felt to finish it off.
Oni made easily with felt
Why not try making a cute oni (demon) mascot with felt? Use a toilet paper roll cut to a length of 6.5 cm as the base, representing the pants on the lower half and the face on the upper half.
For the pants, first cover the entire lower half with yellow felt, then twist and glue three band-shaped felt pieces—yellow and brown strips that you’ve cut and joined—around it.
For the face, attach red felt and glue yarn along the top edge to make the hair, then add pearl stickers for the eyes and cheeks.
Finally, attach felt triangles as horns, and it’s complete!
Bean-Throwing Cup
Let’s make an easy bean cup using a paper cup.
First, firmly press and flatten the rim of the cup, then cut off the edge with scissors.
Overlap the drinking rim to create a lid, add the beans, and then slide the previously cut rim under the lid to use it as a handle.
Finally, decorate the outside like an oni (ogre) and you’re done! Feel free to make it cute using yarn, felt, or construction paper.
Since the handle is only tucked under the lid, it will come off when you open the lid.
If it’s a hassle to tuck it in each time, try cutting the edge in half and gluing it on.
5 Devilishly Good Crafts
This idea showcases five crafts: an ogre hat made from a paper bowl, ogre photo props made with paper plates, an ogre hat made from construction paper and PE tape, a sparkly pipe-cleaner ogre party hat made with construction paper, and an ogre mask made from a paper bag.
Each project has simple steps, so as long as the parts are prepared, older adults can enjoy working on them too.
They also make great decorations, adding a festive Setsubun atmosphere just by being displayed.
Origami Setsubun Wreath
A Setsubun wreath that lets you feel Japan’s traditional customs is a great way to enjoy the seasonal event while also exercising your fingers.
Let’s prepare and make it with Setsubun motifs like a bean container, Otafuku, and red and blue oni.
For the wreath base, using a greenish color inspired by holly leaves—befitting Setsubun—may make the oni and Otafuku stand out more crisply.
When making each part, be mindful of colors associated with Setsubun and attach the pieces in a well-balanced way.
Changing the expressions of each piece will give your work a stronger sense of originality, which is highly recommended.
Setsubun tear-off calendar
When it comes to events in February, many people probably think of Setsubun.
Setsubun brings to mind things like oni (demons), bean-throwing, and ehomaki sushi rolls.
Let’s try making a calendar suited to each season by crafting these associated items out of construction paper or cardstock.
For example, New Year’s for January, Hina dolls for March, and cherry-blossom viewing for April.
It could also be fun to have seniors imagine the season and create items based on their answers.
Recalling seasonal themes each month can serve as brain training, too.
By changing the motifs, you can make a calendar that works all year round.
