EDO - aka iwashi and hiiragi vendors

http://edoflourishing.blogspot.jp/2013/12/food-vendors.html

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akaiwashi uri 赤鰯売り selling "red iwashi sardines"



aka-iwashi 赤鰯 are dried, salted pickled sardines. They were best sold
during the time of Setsubun rituals in Spring.
aka-iwashi was also another name for a rusty sword.



. hiiragi uri 柊売 selling holly branches .
Holly and Sardine Head (hiiragi iwashi 柊鰯)
You pierce the head and eat the sardine !
The holly branch with the fish head is placed outside of the front
door to ward off evil influence and keep you healthy. The demons do
not like the smell of this fish and keep off. Demons also fear the
sharp needles of the holly pierce their eyes, so both together are a
powerful talisman. This custom is more common in the Kansai area.

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