February trivia quiz: three-choice questions on seasonal fun facts like Setsubun and Valentine’s Day

Kisaragi (the second month of the traditional Japanese calendar)

Kisaragi is another name for the second month in the traditional lunar calendar. It is said to come from the practice of layering clothing to keep warm while winter’s chill still lingers. It is also interpreted as a term referring to the quiet period before plants and trees begin to sprout.

Gemini

People born from January 20 to February 18 are Aquarius, and those born from February 19 to March 20 are Pisces. By the way, Gemini—mentioned among the options—applies to people with birthdays from May 21 to June 21.

To ward off evil spirits

The bean-throwing performed on Setsubun is meant to drive away evil spirits and invite good fortune. Beans are believed to have the power to ward off evil, so they are scattered inside the house and outside the gate to chase away demons and malevolent spirits, while praying for the family’s health and happiness. For this reason, there is a custom of chanting “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” (“Demons out, fortune in”) while throwing the beans.

Trampling the wheat so that its roots grow strong.

Mugifumi is a farming practice in which growing wheat is trodden to help its roots anchor firmly in the soil, making the plants more resistant to cold and less prone to lodging, so they grow stronger. Mugifumi is often carried out during the cold period in February and is cherished as a seasonal word for spring.

Rio Carnival

The Rio Carnival is one of the world’s largest samba festivals, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from February to March. The event is renowned for its lavish parades and costumes. The Bayreuth Festival and the San Fermín festival are typically held from July to August each year.

the first strong spring wind

The answer is “haru ichiban,” the first strong southerly wind that blows between the start of spring (Risshun) and the spring equinox. This wind, which brings warmth, signals that spring is approaching and is regarded by many as a breeze that symbolizes the beginning of a new season.

cat

February 22 is known as Cat Day, inspired by the “nyan nyan nyan” sound that cats make. In Japan, this day is especially celebrated by giving gifts to beloved cats and holding numerous cat-related events.

Inari sushi

The answer is inari sushi. “Hatsu-uma” refers to the first Day of the Horse that arrives each year in the second month of the lunar calendar, and it is considered a day to honor the Inari deity. On this day, there is a custom of eating inari sushi—rice wrapped in fried tofu—in connection with Inari.

cow

The northeast, known as the kimon—the unlucky direction to be avoided—is represented by the ox and tiger (ushi-tora) in the twelve-point compass. Because of this, demons (oni) are said to have ox horns and wear tiger-striped loincloths.

Chocolate a man gives to himself

“Ore-choco” refers to chocolate that you buy for yourself to eat. It’s a term especially used when men purchase it, and it became a hot topic in recent Valentine’s seasons. Among the other options, chocolate given from a man to a woman is called “gyaku-choco” (reverse chocolate), and chocolate given to friends is called “tomo-choco.”