Setsubun 節分

In the past, Japan used to celebrate the coming of Spring on the 4th of February, an event called Risshun 立春, "the standing up of Spring". Every kid knows that in order to proceed to a new thing in life, open a new page of the new year, you first have to get rid of the darkness who might pursue you from the whirlpools of the past. That is why it is advised to knock the poor Oni 鬼 demons with a handful of roasted beans, to throw the grains at the sinner or rather sin-teaser as violently as possible, so that the bastard wouldn't think of coming back. This event, held on the Spring's (and actually whenever seasons change, but this one is the most famous) faultline is called Setsubun 節分。
The custom orders (according to what the author have heard) the MOM of the house to disguise into Kami 神 god (the big happy face) and the DAD of the household into the demon mentioned above (the ugly red face). Then everyone tells the red face to kindly get the hell out of their lives for the next year.
Safe and sound, each member of the celebrating family eats as many beans as many Springs he have already seen in his life travel trough these Japanese islands plus one for the sake of the coming year.

The photo displays a rather spicy or salty cracker called osembei 御煎餅 which is being used by devouring all year long. It is only the occasional design that differs now.
Ijô desu. 以上です。 That's all folks.