Today, February 3rd, is Setsbun (節分）. Setsubun marks the beginning of spring in the Japanese calendar (apparently, tomorrow is Spring!). It is not a national holiday, but rather a festivity day much enjoyed by children (similar, I suppose, to how North Americans enjoy Halloween).
People buy their kids little devil masks, and they throw beans - at home or at a shrine. While throwing the beans, you are supposed to shout: "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!". This roughly translates to: Devil out! Happiness in!; this is a symbolic casting out of the demons and bad luck, and inviting good luck and happiness into our lives.
After throwing the beans, you are supposed to pick up and eat the number of beans that corresponds to your age (which is probably why the festivities are more palatable to kids:-)
More information about Setubun (and other aspects of Japan and Japanese culture) can be found here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2285.html
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