A ritual of purification to exorcise oni (ogres) or evil spirits held on this setsubun day originally came from "Tsuina" (a year-end ceremony to drive away ogres), which had been observed since around the Heian period.
もともと、この節分の鬼を払う悪霊ばらい行事は、平安時代頃から行われている「追儺」（ついな）から生まれた。